Tweeters and Portland Area Birders,

At 7:30 this morning, I heard what I thought was the distinctive song of the
Ovenbird twice from my back deck on the western side of Battle Ground, Clark
County. Unfortunately, I wanted to hear it a third time before I officially
"counted" it. It stopped and I disappointedly thought it was the best yard
bird that I ever had that got away. When I was on the deck at 9:02, it sang
again from about 60 yards away and the unmistakable
TEACHer-TEACHer-TEACHer-TEACHer put a smile on my face. This was a new
yard, county, and state bird. I felt like I was back in any woods in New
Jersey!

It's been quite a surprising Spring with migrants still passing through. My
sightings for the week:

Warbling Vireo - singing birds on 6/16 and 6/19
Pacific-slope Flycatcher - one singing on 6/17 and 6/19. This bird may be
on territory in the strip of woods beyond the clearing beyond the deck which
would be a first (for me).
Western Tanager - singing bird on 6/15 and 6/19
Wilson's Warbler - singing on 6/16
Yellow-rumped Warbler - one flyover on 6/19
Evening Grosbeak - 2 flyovers on 6/17 and 5 on 6/19
Bullock's Oriole - one on 6/15 - only the third for the yard
unidentified singing warbler - 6/15 - have no idea about id. - warbled trill
followed by two buzz notes - some kind of Townsend's variant?

There are three adult male Lauli Buntings apparently on territory about a
half mile north of my house - this is a first for that area since I moved
here 6 years ago.
Red-breasted Sapsucker - family with screaming young due to fledge any day
now. This is also in the previously mentioned strip of woods
Hairy Woodpecker - active nest just located today 100 yards from the house
but not on the year yard list yet.

My yard is at the same elevation as the upper reaches of Ridgefield NWR so
its still on the valley floor so the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson's
Warbler, and Western Tanager typically don't breed here.

Keep your eyes and ears skyward.

Jim
--
Jim Danzenbaker
Battle Ground, WA
360-723-0345
jdanzenbaker at gmail.com
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