Tweeters,

Just went outside to check on the KILLDEER, and stopped in my tracks on the
front porch. In with the group of about 10 MOURNING DOVES was a much
bulkier, and longer (just plain larger!), dove-like bird. The Band-tailed
Pigeons had come through last week, but this bird wasn't one of those. A
bin-view of the bird brought it into close focus: EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE. I
checked for all the usual markings, and that's the bird. (The Ringed
Turtle-Doves I've seen are quite a bit smaller, although built along the
same lines as the Mourning Doves. It doesn't look like one of the dove
crosses, either.) When it flew into the apple trees across the street when
the Mourning Doves flushed from some Steller's Jays coming in, the markings
on the tail were pretty prominent, as was the squarishness of the tail. If
this dove sticks around, it'll have to dodge the local Cooper's Hawk, which
really likes the Mourning Doves.



The KILLDEER have either hatched, or the nest was predated because there's
no longer an adult at the nest. I hear the adults out to the south, so I'm
hoping we have another success. I'll be checking later today.



BARN SWALLOWS returned yesterday, and are flying around the area here. Four
EVENING GROSBEAKS are also coming in to feed.



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com