Hi all,
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Usually the Racing reports this time of year?are filled with tales of more smashed records than Chihuly glass at a Belltown Party.? But it still could happen:
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CAROLYN EAGAN? is giving Race officials hope of a new?record this year.? In early June Eagan was already at 89 with a WESTERN KINGBIRD, and the record she's attacking?is "only"?98-- for Port Ludlow.
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Slightly closer by percentage to?a record?are SANDY DANIELS/KEVIN STEINER ?of Auburn with 83 (record 93), also from early June, who have a tough job cut out for?them despite an eye-popping highlights list including YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, LAZULI BUNTING, MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER & BARN?OWL.
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Since we love YARDBIRDREPRODUCTION we must note Daniels had a Vaux's Swift nesting in her chimney.
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Reporting at the same time was DENIS DESILVIS who oddsmakers?might be giving?a fighting chance.? But it won't be a walk in the park as DeSilvis was at 81 in Roy with EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, NORTHERN SHRIKE, GREAT HORNED OWL, CHIPPING SPARROW & AMERICAN KESTREL, chasing his?08 record also of 98.
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Oh wait,?now here's a record that should drop this year: Capitol Hill, Seattle.? BRETT WOLFE??was at 37 in?early June with RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, BROWN CREEPER and VAUX'S SWIFT and needs only three to tie for Capitol Hill and only 9 to tie?the all-time overall?yard/type Urban?record, that could be tough.
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And another that might topple: Gray's Harbor and Ocean Shores.? DIANNA MOORE has 57 and needed six to tie as of late July.? Could be a nail-biter.? Moore has BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, WHIMBREL, EURASIAN COLLARD DOVE, & GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.
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New records are guaranteed, however.? One will be a long overdue record from Friday Harbor where MONICA WIELAND?had 23 in the spring with RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD & PIED-BILLED GREBE.? Catch Wieland's amazing blog with shots of Rhinocerous Auklets flying over Orcas, etc. ?at? http://orcawatcher.blogspot.com?
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LINDA PHILLIPS, a veteran racer with a new yard to race in, is?pretty well?guaranteed?to be the holder?of the town of?Kenmore's guaranteed new?record.? And that will be not less than 57 including BLACK-THROATED GRAY, TOWNSEND'S ?& MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS as well as WESTERN WOOD PEWEE, CALIFORNIA QUAIL & WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.
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Meanwhile, reporting in early June, SCOTT HOSKIN? &? PENNY ROSE needed 20 to tie the Ballard record despite highlights including MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, SNOW GOOSE, WESTERN SCRUB JAY, GADWALL, TREE SWALLOW, BARRED OWL, B-H & EVE. GROSBEAKS, CHIPPING SPARROW & RED CROSSBILL.
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Also down by 20 from massive records set by themselves in glorious?past years are KRISTI HEIN? and CASEY BAZEWICK in Anacortes.? But in spite of adverse conditions, they had 4 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW? YARDBIRDFLEDGLINGS which warms the heart of everyone with one.
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In Yelm, MICHELLE ZENNER-BERTELS is steadily advancing the new Yelm mark, now at 25 with a PILEATED WOODPECKER, among others.
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Meanwhile in Snoqualmie, JOHN TUBBS? is only 15 away as of August 11 with 53 including?a WILLOW?FLYCATCHER? which is not a YardLifeBird?but is the first of its species?to be seen actually in the yard--and everyone agrees, those are the best yardbirds.
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Ending this roundup?is the Battler from Battleground, amazing R-record holder JIM DANZENBAKER who at the end of June was at 92 and?and still needed?24 to tie. Danzenbaker?has NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL & BITTERN,?birds I don't?often get to type in?this capacity, and we're wishing him luck smashing the paltry ClarkCo-Battleground-residential?record of 116.?
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Join the YardBirdRace!
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Reason:?for fun.
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Do it by emailing your 2008 Yardbirdlist to yardbirdrace at yahoo.com?? add in your address (won't be publicized) and whether your yard-type is acreage (over 1.2 acres) , waterfront,
residential, urban,?or greenbelt.
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Check the Leaderboard:
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http://ednewbold.com/ybr_leaderboard.html
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Thanks all,
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Ed Newbold where our Violet-greens fledged the kid or kids yesterday, we never knew if there was more than one, making this our latest V-g fledging ever.? Normally they stick around for a week after fledging and shepherd the kids back into the box at night.? Not this time: we're outa here!?
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