Tweeters,

Just watched two Sandhill Cranes flying close together, wingtip to wingtip, fly over my house and west along the Scatter Creek drainage toward Tenino. A first for the yard list, species #139 (its a big yard).

To add to the recent list-serve notes on migrants coming and going, we've seen ever increasing numbers of Golden-crowned Sparrows, beginning about Sept. 10 (a bit later than normal), Fox Sparrows are back in droves, Cedar Waxwings and Violet-green Swallows are still trickling through. Black-throated Gray Warbler as recently as yesterday, but Common Yellowthroats seem to have moved out. Lots of accipiters moving through. Last Rufous Hummingbird seen was Sept. 23. Local Green Heron not seen in a few days. First Ruby-crowned Kinglet Sept. 21. Juncoes are year-round here in small numbers, but a small few flocks of juncoes seem to be moving through, but no large numbers yet. Not a migrant, but secretive, local Ruffed Grouse seem more in evidence along hillside roads now more than any other time of year.

Good birding, Bob

Bob Sundstrom
Tenino, Washington
ixoreus at scattercreek.com