Tweets, After a prolonged drought of birding opportunities (too busy!), I
took a short walk before work (not very early, due to the Olympic Games) and
found the flock of migrants (and post-nesters?) I was hoping for. They were
active feeding on service and cascara berry (some still feeding
near-adult-looking offspring) and bathing in the vegetation-sheltered gully
newly filled with rainwater. This was located just east of Churchill(/Mull)
Rd x SR 507 on the rail-to-trail route east of town.
- Red-eyed Vireo: 6-8, 3 singing at various intensities, most I've seen
- Warbling Vireo: easily a dozen, perhaps the most I've seen
- Blk-th Gray Warbler: easily a dozen, perhaps the most I've seen
- Wilson's Warbler: 1
- Blk-c Chickadee: scads
Nearby: Hutton's Vireo, waxwing, Song Sparrow, yellowthroat, Willow Flyctr,
Pileated Wdpkr. Perhaps the highlight was 35-40 Evening Grosbeaks flying low
overhead. Not a single robin to be seen in the vicinity. Good birding!
--Paul Hicks, Tenino, s. Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace.org