Hi Tweeters,
Interesting birding yesterday in my backyard in Federal Way. It was very
birdy out after dinner so I decided to hang out in the backyard with the
scope and check for migrants. Lots of birds flying treetop to treetop, but
initially only found large groups of AMERICAN ROBINS and HOUSE FINCHES wth a
few AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES flying over.

Then I noticed a few birds hawking from the tops and edges of the Fir trees.
I was suprised to see they were RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES which I hadn't seen
hawking before. I soon noticed an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD chasing bugs as well.
And then a larger bird with a red head that turned out to be a hawking
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. Later, the whole Sapsucker family showed up, all
hawking. Apparently there was some new insect hatch and all my normal birds
decided they were flycatchers.

So I continued to watch the tops of the fir trees and I finally saw a new
bird that looked something like a tree swallow. But the flight wasn't right
and when I scoped it it turned out to be an EASTERN KINGBIRD as far as I can
tell. A hummingbird chased it to a nearby tree where I was able to keep it
in the scope for about 20 seconds. It definitely was not a tree swallow as
there was no metallic blue and the beak was large and thick. This was a
first for my yard and a lifer for me as well.

Other birds seen:
- BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
- CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE
- DARK-EYED JUNCO
- NORTHERN FLICKER
- AMERICAN CROW
- RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

Randy Bjorklund
Federal Way, WA