Hi All,

I took a break around 8:45 this morning and walked a loop around our business complex which adjoins an unofficial 'greenbelt' area. One part of the walk was along a powerline trail with a small permanent stream and associated riparian area nearby, and the usual blackberry jungle (cut to the ground this summer and only grown back a couple of feet high) under the powerlines. And, a single paper birch tree planted up against a PSE substation fence. In this one lone tree, or in the immediate vicinity of the tree on the ground or in the berries were:

American Robin - 3
Red-breasted Sapsucker - 1
Cedar Waxwings - 2
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Savannah Sparrow - 1
Spotted Towhee - 2
Bewick's Wren - 1
American Goldfinch - 5
Song Sparrow - 1
Golden Crowned Sparrow - 1 (first of the season)
House Finch - 6
HUTTON'S VIREO (HUVI) - 1

When I first saw the HUVI, I thought, well the Ruby-crowned Kinglets are back for the winter, but a closer look at the bird showed pale lores, Vireo bill and the other confirming field marks.

A rather eclectic group, with HUVI being my 80th life bird for my work location...!

John Tubbs
Snoqualmie, WA
johntubbs at comcast.net
www.tubbsphoto.com