Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Mountain Bluebird records in Thurston Co.
Date: Mar 23 07:45:50 2007
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan - godwit513 at msn.com


Hello Bill and Tweets,

Indeed, Mountain Bluebird is a very uncommon to rare species in Thurston Co.
as it is in most lowland western Washington Cos. during migration. "Our" two
records for this species in Thurston Co. include the Rock Prairie record
near Tenino on the 14th of March,1999 and located after trying to get closer
to a pair of White-tailed Kites. This bird was a female bird,as was an
individual we had subsequently at the Weir Prairie a week later. This
individual was also a female and was mixed in amongst a flock of wandering
Western Bluebirds on the eastern portion of the prairie. During this
observation we also had our "first of the season" Vesper Sparrow that we
photographed. It is our thoughts that Mountain Bluebird may actually be more
regular than records indicate in Thurston Co.,especially during spring
migration but these our only our thoughts. Good habitat exists for this
species does exists in the southern portion of Thurston Co. chiefly in the
Tenino-Rock Prairie area,as well as Scatter Creek WMA and Weir Prairie to
name a few areas to be checked. This species could show up almost
anywhere,but more open areas are probably the most attractive to it. We
believe that the latter location is closed off to the general public and
access to it may still possibly be only requested for permission by
authorization at Ft. Lewis. Anyhow, this is our information,as requested.

Sincerely,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan


----- Original Message -----
From: "bill shelmerdine" <georn1 at hotmail.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 6:47 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Mountain Bluebird records in Thurston Co.


> Greetings All,
> I guess I'm a little slow on the uptake. Keith caught me napping.
> Regarding the occurrence of Mountain Bluebirds in Thurston County. This
> is indeed an uncommon, dare I say rare occurrence. In the past 10 years +
> I only have information on 3 records for the county including this current
> one (I'm thinking there is a 4th I'm forgetting about). All were spring
> migrants and all are from the prairie areas of South County. They all
> involved adult males and include a bird at Rock Prairie (date uncertain,
> Patrick Sullivan), one at Glacial Heritage Prairie (4/27/01, Shelmerdine),
> and the bird at Mima Mounds (R Mraz). A very nice find Rick!
> Anyone have any other records? I'm compiling. By the way, there are no
> CBC records for the county.
> Cheers and good birding
> Bill Shelmerdine
> Olympia
> mailto: georn1 at hotmail.com
>
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