Harry Nehls
Portland, Oregon


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From: <pjcandgpc at aol.com>
Date: Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:30:22 -0400
To: <hnehls6 at comcast.net>
Subject: RBA - probable Lucy's Warbler, S.W. Washington, 2 p.m.

Hi Harry! We're having an interesting spring!

As you know, we have a second home at Trout Lake, Washington. A birding
friend from Arizona and I have been birding this area (through lots of
rain!) during the past week; lots of the usual suspects have been seen.

Today, we drove about 10 miles n. out of Trout Lake on the road to Randle.
We stopped at road spur 520, which we've birded in past years; things were
quiet and but armed with BirdJam's pygmy owl call, we brought in a loud but
unseen warbler; my friend then remarked, "If we were in Arizona, I'd call
THAT a Lucy's!" I dismissed it! Back in the car, we played BJ's Lucy's,
then returned to the site and played Lucy's-----and in came the very small,
pale gray, short-tailed bird! Conditions were not great, but we both a
quick view, and the warbler continued to return our call and continued
calling. We gave it a break, and after more birding, we returned to the
site, with repeat results.

We ruled out all birds other than Lucy's Warbler, based on 1) my Arizona
friend's and my prior experience with Lucy's, 2) my friend's expertise w/AZ
birds and vocalizations, 3) our views of the warbler, 4) BirdJam's matching
call, 5) bird responding to BirdJam's recording, 6) six field guides
research ruling out all other possible pale, vagrant warblers, and 7) bird's
repeat response to recording.

Was not sure how to convey this info, especially to Tweeter's. Thoughts?
Wasn't there a Lucy's that visited on Oregon feeder/yard this winter or
last?

As always, thanks for your help!

Priscilla Christenson
Birder in Beaverton (and Trout Lake, WA)
pjcandgpc at aol.com



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