Subject: [Tweeters] Battle Ground BLACK SWIFT
Date: May 27 20:40:59 2007
From: Jim Danzenbaker - jdanzenbaker at gmail.com


Hi Tweeters,

At 7:30pm tonight, I stepped out onto the back deck after noticing that
there was a line of showers approaching to see what would be flying around.
I've done this for the last five evenings hoping for something to join the
flock of Cliff, Violet-Green, and Barn Swallows in this side of
the development - nothing unusual before this evening. This time, the first
bird I saw was a BLACK SWIFT (#97) flying about 150 feet up which allowed
for good observation. I watched it for about five seconds and then it
disappeared to the north. Later, I only saw two twittering Vaux's Swifts
with the swallows. I live about 10 miles due west and about 35 miles due
south of Mt. St. Helens. I wondered if this bird was crossing from the
Portland area to the mountains and then continuing north. I had a probable
Black Swift over the house last August but didn't see it well enough to be
sure. Amother new state bird, county bird, and yard bird! Later this
evening, I saw one GREEN HERON (#98) flying east over the house towards the
apparent roost area (a pond in the woods beyond the houses across the
street) that up to five used last summer. I've been waiting for them too!
Other migrants seen from the yard today include:

Willow Flycatcher 1 (bred here last summer - I hope this is one of the
returning birds)
Wilson's Warbler 1 (landed on the deck)
Yellow Warbler 1 (female)
Western Tanager 1
Red Crossbill 12 (part of the same group as yesterday or maybe a different
flock - Mt. Tabor recorded quite a few today)
Purple Finch 2 (both female/young birds - nice comparison on the feeder with
recently fledged House Finches)
Good birding to you.
--
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, Clark County, WA
360-723-0345
jdanzenbaker at gmail.com