Hi Tweeters,

I didn't think anything was going to be flying last night with all the rain
but from about 5:15am through 5:45am, I had at least 15 SWAINSON'S
THRUSHes fly over my yard in Battle Ground, Clark County. This morning, I
saw one WILSON'S WARBLER, one BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (frst for year for
yard) and an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. Overhead were two N. Harriers and two
Turkey Vultures. A surprise was a flock of 8 N. SHOVELER flying south.

The real surprise however, just happened 25 minutes ago. I took a break
from computer work and looked out the window at the birds on the back deck.
I noticed that one of them was a Willow Flycatcher. While I was watching
it, I heard a Bewick's Wren coming closer until it, too, appeared on the
railing of the deck. Immediately, the Willow Fly attacked it and I was
amazed to see a few Bewick's Wren breast feathers floating in the breeze as
a result. Afterward, the Willow Fly caught and inspected each feather. I
thought for sure that it would be quite a while before the Bewick's Wren
tried to explore the deck again. I was wrong: it appeared and, again, the
Willow Fly attacked it although this time in a corner out of my view. A few
seconds later, the Flycatcher returned to its perch on the railing as
innocent looking as ever. It wasn't finished though. It next went for a
Black-capped Chickadee which had not heard of the "devil flycatcher of
Battle Ground"! Defending your feeding territory can be strenuous stuff.
Jim
--
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA
360-723-0345
jdanzenbaker at gmail.com