Tweets,

Harbinger of fall/winter: mountain species in the lowlands. Around Tenino
Monday I found first-of-season TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and HERMIT THRUSH, plus 3
LINCOLN'S SPARROWs at Mull St marsh where a single first-of-fall bird was
seen a week ago, 8/30.

I encountered some of largest and most diverse mixed flocks of fall migrants
I've ever seen while birding along Vantine and Scatter Creeks. The day's
highlight was at Equus Lane approximately 5 miles west of town. I ventured
about 80 yards into a grassy/weedy patch, tracking the faint sound of
warbler "chip"s, and found myself in the middle of an amphitheater of mixed
fir, ash, oak, willow, maple, spray, elderberry and other bushes. During the
hour standing in shoulder-high grass two waves of a migrant flock passed
through, most every species literally whizzing by my ears. Exhilerating! I
got point-blank views of Bushtits (scads!), Chestnut-backed and Black-capped
Chickadees (20?), Warbling (1) and Cassin's (2) Vireos, Yellowthroat (6),
Wilson's (6) and Orange-crowned (3) and Black-throated Gray (16+) Warblers
of every plumage, plus a likely hatch-year HERMIT WARBLER. This bird had
dingy-off-whitish underparts, dingier at sides/flanks with no streaking,
with an interesting faint yellow "breast spot"; nice yellow "spectacles"
with no evidence of a residual "eye mask" (per Sibley's illustrations); a
gray-brown back and nape (same color as some of the BTGs), with the crown
finely patterned. (I had a similar bird 9/15/07 on Vantine Rd.) My pulse got
to racing when I heard the Yellow-throated-like scold of the Cassin's Vireo
-- I supposed I had an ultra-rarity on my hands. I've heard plenty of
Cassin's singing, and a few times "laughing," but never this series of hard,
menacing scold notes. Other species associated with this flock: Western
Tanager and Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Eur. Collared Doves were cooing at the
residence near the highway and a Belted Kingfisher sounded off over Scatter
Creek. Other mixed flocks included Townsend's Warbler, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, and Hutton's Vireo with begging juveniles. An
unforgettable day! 60 species. Good birding!

-- Paul Hicks / Tenino, s. Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace DOT org