Tweeters
On Thursday I reported seeing 4 Purple Martins at Logboom Park.

After reading my post Stan Kostka wrote me the following message.

On This is the first report I've seen of martins in WA this season, and
only the second in the Pacific Northwest that I am aware of, the
first being on the southern Oregon coast at Lakeside on 24 March.
Martins were recently observed at a coastal Northern California
breeding site for the first time on April 1.
It is certainly possible for individuals or
small groups to break out far ahead of a general migration wave,
but since your report is ahead of any additional sightings in Oregon
or southern WA, along the Columbia River that has a large martin
population, I have to ask if you are certain the birds you saw were
Purple Martins.


I can not be absolutely sure it was Martins I saw.
I went back today, Sibley in hand to check . There were no birds near the gourds (except DC Cormorants)
The birds I did see today were very high and I couldn't get good looks.
Violet Green Swallows were also present both days and the bird in question was definably not a VG. They flew slower and fanned their tails as they flew.
Overall they were dark in color with somewhat lighter breasts (undersides) that blend into the darker plumage, not distinct dark and white pattern like the VG's.
I'm sorry if I sent anyone on a wild goose chase. I'll be more careful in the future.

Linda Phillips
linda_phillips1252 at msn.com<mailto:linda_phillips1252 at msn.com>
Kenmore 98028-2616