Hi all,
Here?s the latest from the 2009 YardBirdRace?Please, no Gaming!?
One record that will be completely DEMOLISHED ?this year is Olympia Urban, where DAVE CATTERSON is already 22 over with 45 including COMMON NIGHTHAWK, GREEN HERON, PURPLE FINCH, 4 WARBLERS, & PURPLE MARTIN.? Catterson is also within 1 of tying the overall record in Urban.? (Incidentally, Is Olympia the last place left in the NW where you can still see Purple Martins in the non-waterfront part of the downtown, or is it the first of a next wave of downtown-breeding Martins in the NW? Let me dream!)
As predicted, CAROLYN EAGAN is now safely in new-record territory in Port Ludlow waterfront and is also in THREE-DIGITS ?for the first time with no birds to spare (are there ever birds to spare?) at 100 including YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD & WESTERN KINGBIRD.
However, the 2009 Race doesn?t have too many stories like this to tell.? It does feature a number of ?veteran Racers? rounding the final curve with a lot of species to make up.
GRACE & OLLIE OLIVER, for instance are doing great with 53 and WESTERN SCREECH-OWL, but the record for Redmond R (their?s) ?is 61.
DIANNA MOORE in Ocean Shores is at least within striking distance at 57 (record 63) with EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.
In Kirkland, MICHAEL HOBBS? has a cool 54 including OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, EVENING GROSBEAK & NASHVILLE WARBLER but needs 17! to tie last year.
DOWNY WOODPECKER is the tougher of the two common Picoides for JOHN TUBBS in Snoqualmie, who lives among tall conifers and picks up HAIRY WOODPECKER with ease.? ??A Downy brings Tubbs, who also has MOUTAIN CHICKADEE, to 56, but he still needs a dozen to tie.
Meanwhile, JIM DANZENBAKER as of last report was at 98 with SOLITARY SANDPIPER & CHIPPING SPARROW among recent ads.? Danzenbaker needs 18 to tie, which could be a nail-biter.
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See the Leaderboard is at http://ednewbold.com/ybr_leaderboard.html
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Anyone with a 2009 yard list from anywhere in Western WA:? Now is the time to enter the YardBirdRace!? ?
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It will be very appreciated.? Entrants WILL RECEIVE FREE at the end of the year either a Violet-green Swallow NEST-BOX built in Medford, OR, or a valuable membership in American Bird Conservancy or ?Bird-Life International, or a membership in the Washington Ornithological Society, ?Box of wildlife art notecards, or other great gift!
Enter by emailing us at yardbirdrace at yahoo.com ?your 2009 Yard list and your address (not publicized).
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SHOTS of the handsome Juanita Beach FRANKLIN?s GULL ?which demonstrated it?s acrobatic ?aerial?catching ability for us (not shown), are at?? http://ednewbold.com/sightings.html
Also at http://ednewbold.com/sightings.html, scroll down to the next story on the same page and NO SEASICKNESS PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED??to view my photo essay of the Aug. 22 ?WESTPORT SEABIRDS BOAT TRIP.?? ?
If you?ve got the right stuff, Book these trips at ??WestportSeabirds.com
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Thanks all,
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Ed Newbold ednewbold1 at yahoo.com or yardbirdrace at yahoo.com? ?residential Beacon Hill
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