Subject: [Tweeters] 4/26 migrant bonanza in Tenino
Date: Apr 27 08:55:03 2008
From: Paul Hicks - phicks at accessgrace.org


Tweets,
I hit a bit of a migration bonanza Saturday morning (as did many others) on
a wooded hillside above Tenino. It was a matter of being in the right spot
at the right time (8:30-9am) as the birds were rousing after a frosty night.
I "happened" to witness what was apparently the "waking up" of a Nashville
Warbler, starting with an unfamiliar call under cover of underbrush,
progressing to half-song (sounded more like an odd Wilson's) and then full
song as it worked its way toward the canopy. If I had not slowed down and
been quietly tracking down other spring arrivals, I probably would have
missed it altogether. As it turned out, during the ~20-30 minutes in this
one spot I had (*singing):
- Nashville Warbler* (~5-year bird here for me)
- Townsend's Warbler* (good numbers)
- Black-th Gray Warbler*
- Orange-cr Warbler*
- Wilson's Warbler* (season first)
- Hammond's Flyctr* (a "first"** for this frequented tract in 18 years)
- Hermit Thrush* (~6)
- Winter Wren*
- Hutton's Vireo*
- Both kinglets*
- Both chickadees*
- Purple Finch*
- Am Robin
- Song Sparrow*
- Sp Towhee*
- Com Raven
- Steller's Jay
- Tree Swallow
63 species for the morning, including FOS MacGillavray's and 8 warblers.
**Friday morning in the same tract I flushed a FOS Hammond's Flyctr (silent)
laying low in blackberry brambles. I got point-blank views looking DOWN at
the primary projection from behind the perched bird, and ample views of the
"vest." Good birding!
--Paul Hicks, Tenino, s. Thurston Co
phicks AT accessgrace.org