Yesterday while out walking I came across a great spot for thicket-type
birds, and stopped to admire the industry of the BUSHTITS and B-C
CHICKADEES, among others (Bewick's Wren, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, etc.,
what you'd expect to see in a blackberry bush area). What really caught my
eye, though, was an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD flitting around. Pretty cool to see
this time of year!

Question: How much yellow does one ordinarily see on Hutton's Vireos in
late fall/early winter? There was a bird flitting around in the bushes that
had yellow underparts as bright as an Am. Goldfinch in alt. plumage. Its
wings were sort of an olive color but I didn't see barring. I got a "what
Is this???" look at it, then glimpses of yellow, but never saw it long
enough to ID it/rule out birds. Its shape seemed wrong for a vireo and was
a little large for an RC Kinglet. Heard a little bit of a very sweet song,
too, but don't know if it was that bird or what. Odd time of year for that
kind of song. The shape was wrong for an escaped canary too. Puzzling.
Must go back and try to see it again. If you have any ideas re what this
could be, I'd appreciate 'em.

Good birding,
Mary

Mary E. Klein
Bremerton WA
Cellobird -AT- Comcast.net