Hi Tweets,

There's really no way for me to get a positive ID on the bird I saw Monday, but I'd love suggestions as to what it could have been. I work half-time down in Renton and was right at edge of the river, at the beginning of the Cedar River Trail (next to Lake Washington). There was a bird a bit smaller than a robin - but more slender - foraging in the brush, alternately walking along the ground and hopping up and down from low branches. It had a prominent yellow eye stripe (it went above the eye - it was dark through the eye) and dark cap. It bobbed its tail somewhat regularly. The bird was brown with what may have been white wing bars (of course, I didn't have my binoculars), and I think the breast was a lighter color that *may* have had some streaks on it.

The size and eye stripe have me baffled. I know there's probably no way to say for sure, but even candidate suggestions would be welcome. The only thing I've been able to come up with at all is a Palm Warbler, but they location is all wrong; that can't be right. It's been bugging the heck out of me ever since.

Thanks! :)

Meg Matthews
Communications Specialist
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
UW Botanic Gardens
206-543-2608
gavigan at u dot washington dot edu