Hello Tweets,

This morning we were thrilled with a nice time scanning the skies over our Fircrest yard in Pierce Co. It is an activity we often do,especially during migration when good number of species are observed flying over. We however weren't expecting the 2 species we added to our yard list beginning with 2 WESTERN KINGBIRDS observed flying somewhat low overhead in a northeasterly direction at 7:15am. The 2 bird jus came out of nowhere and we just happened to be looking up and noticed them. The sighting just added to several recent observations throughout western Washington within the last few days,but is definitely one that would have never expected for our residential/suburban yard. Our only nearest Western Kingbird sighting that comes close anywhere near our home was a single bird perched atop a fence line bordering Cheney Stadium in May 1998.

Our next great yard sighting noted this morning included an adult SWAINSON'S HAWK briefly observed at 10:10am soaring moderately high overhead,but upon attempting to retrieve our spotting scope downstairs the bird was lost,but may have actually drifted northward. The sky conditions were prefect during the observation with only a few broken clouds and mostly bright blue sunny skies,but within 15 minutes of further scanning the cloud cover greatly increased. The Swainson's Hawk revealed classic field marks for an adult bird including fairly long,pointed wings that were held uplifted in flight as it soared,but not as extreme as in a Turkey Vulture. The definite contrast from underneath was very noticeable with binoculars consisting of a dark head extending down to the upper breast with completely white belly and undertail coverts. The underwings were showed a nice contrast to with darker outer areas and with dark underwing coverts. The tail was mainly darkish from underneath. Our only other Pierce Co. records for Swainson's Hawk occur from Sunrise during mid September 1995 and 1998.

Other noteworthy spring sightings from our yard this morning included a few other species with most species as additional flyovers:

2 Double-crested Cormorants
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
1 Merlin
1 BARN OWL(heard briefly calling overhead at 12:30am during a full moon and our 2nd personal record for our yard)
1 Vaux's Swift flying overhead at 7:30am with 20 birds observed flying overhead at 9:30am
1 singing Varied Thrush
9 WESTERN TANAGERS in one flock with 22 Red Crossbills at 7:30am with single Western Tanagers noted throughout the remainder of the mid morning.
1 Brewer's Blackbird(observed flying overhead and our 2nd personal yard record of this species)
1 singing Purple Finch
5 Evening Grosbeaks flying overhead calling at 6:45am with 9 birds flying overhead at 7:45am


Overall a nice assortment of species,despite having a rather slow yard on the ground with no migrants moving through as of this morning.


Good yard birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com