My apology for belated report since I was not sure about this bird in the field. On Thursday afternoon, while looking for C.C. Longspur in Hoquiam I have seen a bird with bright yellow belly, same size as nearby Golden-Crowned Sparrows, which is about 7.25" It has landed a couple times on the barbed wire fence, right across the road from Chestnut-Collared Longspur location. What a coincidence. Later, it was seen feeding behind the fence north of intersection of Paulson Rd. and Airport Way. Allan Richards joined me later in search for it and when I suggested it was an oriole, his guess was - Orchard Oriole. I assumed too, that it is an Orchard O. judging by the size of bird. Sorry for my lousy pictures, they were extracted painfully from a small video camera, but I hope that some other photographers will
relocate it tomorrow and post better ones than
these.

http://www.pbase.com/ac9/hoquiam_possible_orchard_oriole

I thank kindly to Charlie Wright and Steve Mlodinow for help on ID and of course, to all who posted promptly about the earlier rarities. The Chestnut-Collared Longspur was feeding low in the grass, near the fence post with a white tip exactly where Brad Waggoner and his gang left it. Very tame bird. No need to push it for a good photo. It will be hopping right to your feet if you position yourself and stay calm.?
Best regards,

Igor Uhrovic,

Port Orchard, WA



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