Hello Tweets,
On my home from Portland this afternoon I made an attempt to relocate
the Black Phoebe I found yesterday near Chehalis. After finding out it
was indeed the first record for Lewis County I felt bad for not
savoring the moment a little more. Alas, I could not relocate the
bird. The rain and wind were in full effect which kept bird activity
to a minimum so perhaps it's still hanging around. The area around
this area seems about as good of habitat for the species as I can
imagine in Western Washington in November.

I did see a conspicuously large falcon soaring across the road. It
disappeared very quickly and I never saw any field marks other than
shape. After reviewing the Sibley drawings for in-flight falcons I
think Gyrfalcon is the most likely candidate, but I would need to have
seen more to say for sure. I did note that Terry Sisson had a
confirmed Gyr within a mile or two from this location a couple weeks
ago.

As I was leaving a White-Throated Sparrow popped out from a shrub for
a couple seconds before disappearing. That's two Lewis County code 4
birds, a possible code 5, and a county first in two short visits. I
wish I could have this kind of luck closer to home.

Josh Adams
Lynnwood, WA