Hi Tweeters!

Here is an interesting trend on wintering finches from back East (see below). Some of that is already evident here in WA especially with white winged crossbills. So far this year, three flocks of COMMON REDPOLLS have been reported near the Waterville Plateau and Mt. Rainier. I normally see these much later in Okanogan and Wallowa areas.

This late July to October, several flocks of WHITE WINGED CROSSBILLS have been seen on a regular basis in Oregon and WA. My bold prediction that it will be a good year is becoming somewhat true. However, much of these areas where these irregular birds show up are still very under birded especially in the winter.

The winter of 2006/2007 was a good year for redpolls and pine grosbeaks in Oregon and WA. Not massive numbers but a noticeable representation. In February of 2007 in Twisp, WA I had a flock of 100 pine grosbeaks in one small tree feeding 4 feet from my head. It was amazing! Several redpolls sightings were seen as well in the Okanogan area. Bohemian Waxwings and Snow Buntings were also in great numbers. I hope the cycle repeats for this winter.

Here is an interesting and informative link to the forecast of these wintering finches for 2006 and 2007. It helps you to understand their wintering habits and movement even though it focuses on the East coast.

http://www.ofo.ca/2006-7winterfinchforecast.htm

It is early yet with a couple of months until winter official settles in. Hope the trend will affect us so we can see these beautiful, wintering boreal birds. :)

Good birding to you,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)

Subject: Winter-time boreal birds in the east
From: "Dennis P. Vroman"
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 06:22:07 -0700

Below is some of the winter-time arrivals in the east (taken from the Northern
NY birdingonthe.net). It appear that the Bohemian Waxwings are way early this
year. Will the west coast turn out to be swamped too? Dennis

"It appears that Bohemian Waxwings have shown up NY, Vermont, NH and Maine.
Evening Grosbeaks and Pine Siskins are widespread and
reported from all NE states. Pine Grosbeaks have been reported in Maine,
NH, and Vermont. 100's of Common Redpolls and now 4 Hoary Redpolls were
reported from a banding station in Michigan today. Common Redpoll has also
been reported from Penn, NY, Mass and Maine. Flocks of both crossbills."

"...in the last two days 2 Boreal Chickadees and a Gray Jay were reported
from Massachusetts, a state this normally resident species does NOT breed
in."