Subject: [Tweeters] n. Lake Stevens summer birds
Date: Jun 29 08:01:53 2009
From: Scott Atkinson - scottratkinson at hotmail.com



Tweeters:



While busy with yard projects, I encountered 29 species (seen/heard) yesterday, June 28 at Tiny's Land, our place in n. Lake Stevens. The highlight was a long-anticipated, yard-first BULLOCK'S ORIOLE that sang from a tall maple before flying over the house northward, still vocalizing. Our neighbors, just three drives down, reported one at their feeder last year. Also of note, there were four singing W. WOOD-PEWEES on territory at various places at the yard forest edge and along the entrance drive; it's clear to me these are nesting locally and that is a first also for our 14 years here. In the past, we've had them as May-July single migrants and visitors only, uncommonly at best. Also of note, a TURKEY VULTURE was just over the treetops at lunchtime, looking like it wanted to land in the yard. We've only had a few sightings over the years.



For the first time since 1996 summer, we seem to have a pair of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS nesting in tall conifers, and yesterday visits came from single ORANGE-CROWNED and YELLOW-RUMPED (AUDOBON'S) WARBLERS, which have been solely migrants here thus far. BLACK-THROATED GRAY and WILSON'S nest here each year.



Feeder and behavioral highlights--following our best spring for RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, we have up to three female/imm birds regularly visiting the hanging basket and feeder at the front porch. Perhaps the most humorous encounter I've ever had with a fearless hummer was last weekend. I was using a pressure washer (think a few out in Tweeterland have used this equipment) when a female hummer buzzed in and landed (!) on the running motor, perhaps a mere five feet from my face at the time. No problem! Sat there observing me for about five seconds and then flew off. Had another 18 inches from my head yesterday near the front.



Scott Atkinson

Lake Stevens

mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com





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