Subject: [Tweeters] Golden-crowned Kinglets
Date: Jan 13 20:01:31 2011
From: Andrew McCormick - andy_mcc at hotmail.com



Hello Tweeters,

About five years ago I was birding at Powell Butte Nature Park east of Portland, OR when a short but strong squall came through the park. As it did a flock of about 10 Golden-crowned Kinglets dropped down to the ground under a grove of trees and continued foraging there. I had the best looks at them that I had ever had. At the time I thought the heavy weather had brought them down.

Just 10 days ago during a walk around Green Lake, I had a similar experience as one tweet described, when I thought I was seeing a Brown Creeper on the trunk of a tree. It turned out to be a Golden-crowned Kinglet and there were three more of them foraging in the same place. I made a remark to my birding companion that they were probably feeding down low because of the weather. It was quite a blustery day.

In the past I have heard birders talk about Black Swifts being easier to see when there are heavy clouds because they fly lower.

It may be possible that our recent stormy weather may be what is causing the GCKI to be hanging out on the ground. Whatever the reason, it is a lot of fun to get such good looks at them!

Andy McCormick
Bellevue, WA