Tweeters,

While unloading the truck yesterday morning I heard a "different" call-note
and looked around to find a HOUSE WREN working the bottom of the trunk of a
big-leaf maple next to the driveway. First time I've seen one as a yard
bird, but I've been expecting it since they do occur (fairly common) at Fort
Lewis, just over a mile to the north.



In fact, while stopping to see the YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT yesterday, I also
found a singing House Wren across from where the Chat usually occurs.
Speaking of which, the Chat usually sings from a dead shrub about 50 yards
east of the range road, and about 200 yards south of the Muck Creek bridge.
While it was singing yesterday, I also heard what I thought to be another
Chat (female?) calling from deeper vegetation to the northeast of where the
male was singing.



Along with those two species, in the area near the bridge I noted YELLOW,
WILSON'S and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS; SONG and SAVANNAH SPARROWS; TREE,
VIOLET-GREEN, BARN, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS; RED-TAILED HAWK;
CALIFORNIA QUAIL; RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD; OLIVE-SIDED and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS
(the latter a first for the year); AMERICAN ROBIN; SWAINSON'S THRUSH
(another annual first); BUSHTIT; CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE; WESTERN
SCRUB-JAY; and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. And a coyote, in the opening between
the vegetation along the creek and the trees to the south.



At home, I watched a SWAINSON'S THRUSH chase a Mourning Dove, House Sparrow,
Red-winged Blackbird, and Dark-eyed Junco from the area near the blackberry
tangle out back - and all within less than two minutes. Hormones must be up.



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com