It was not possible to ignore all the racket this morning (Fr 9/29) with
all the Evening Grosbeaks going over while I was out preping the yard and
garden for a long winter's nap. Flock after flock after flock, all high, all
headed south in flocks from a half dozen to thirty or more. This went on
and on and on for a solid 4 hours (0700-1100) and probably amounted to
minimally 400-600 birds, maybe many more. These were all passing over just my
simple little yard here in Bellevue, specifically Eastgate south of 90.
Anyone else happen to notice a seemingly unusual large number of Evening
Grosbeaks on the move this morning? I was outside all day long, dawn to dusk
and the flight was over by noon and I didn't hear or see another
thereafter. Evening Grosbeaks have been moving through daily now for at least the
past ten days, but this morning's flight was exceptional. Where are these
things going? Evening Grosbeaks are almost never around here in the winter
or summer (my neighborhood at least) with Spring (May-early June) being the
most consistent and conspicuous season for hearing and seeing them. But
then again, this is after all the FIRST time I've actually ever been around
here in the Fall, so maybe it's not such a big deal.

Richard Rowlett
Bellevue (Eastgate), WA