Thanks to responses to prior inquiries I made, I used the Rainier Audubon site to find my way to the Kent ponds after dropping someone at the airport. I forgot my birdbook and my hand held recorder I use for making field notes and?capturing songs I don't recognize for later ID help. BIG MISTAKE! So now I need to humbly ask help from those more familiar with the birds there.
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First question- large female game bird type flushed as I entered the area with the viewing platform. My immediate assumption was go for the ordinary- probably a Ring-necked pheasant. But on reflection, it seemed more grayish, less red to tawny than I'd expect for them, and I didn't notice the tail projecting far. Have there been other game birds such as grouse seen in this area recently?
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Second bird seen in quick views in the brush along the? east/west stretch? walking along the south side?of the ponds toward the river. Bird was smaller than sparrow, perhaps a litttle larger than warblers. It seemed pretty drab, but had a pleasant song - three long notes on one pitch then two short warble/trills.? There were faint wing bars. I had been hoping for a Nashville warbler, but this clearly was not. Bill seemed a bit large for warblers. I am familiar with both sight aand sound of all the regular birds on the Olympic peninsula, but you in Seattle get lots more variety of summer visitors than we do. On checking songs after I got home, I thought it might be a Lazuli bunting, but since it was singing- it should be male. But looks were closer to a female. Would last year's male still be drab this late? If not , any other ideas? I know it wasn't a flycatcher or Warbling vireo or Yellowthroat (or a lot of other things, for that matter)
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