Hi
My exciting bird of the weekend was a *SONG SPARROW* - not quite up to a
Gray's Harbor level sighting, but this was an odd subspecies for Clallam.
I'm leaning towards juddi, but it will a) probably be impossible to reach a
conclusion and, b) be rather frustrating. At least I have photos.
Also frustrating were the Canada/ Cackling geese, but one had a neck band
(red 182) and appears from that to be a *DUSKY CANADA GOOSE* (Branta
canadensis occidentalis). This is the race that breeds in the Copper River
Delta and winters in the Willamette Valley.Here's a quote from Sibley (
http://www.sibleyguides.com/2007/07/identification-of-cackling-and-canada-goose
):
"Finally, as a cautionary note, Pearce et al (2000) used genetic testing to
assess the accuracy of identifications of Dusky Canada Geese *B. c.
occidentalis* at hunter check stations in Washington. They found that
one-third to one-half of all the geese identified as Dusky by breast color
and bill length (measured in the hand) were in fact not true Duskys. And if
that?s the level of accuracy achieved by experienced people with birds in
hand, what can we expect to do in the field? This is an irresistible
challenge for some of us, but until we have a better sense of the variation
and limits of these subspecies all identification should be approached with
a healthy dose of skepticism." That makes me feel a little better about my
general uncertainty.
Also present: a *PALM WARBLER * on the spit at Hobuck (almost at the
'reliable' status for the end of October, although takes some work), one or
two *ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS *(not very usual for Neah Bay, and my first),
two *NORTHERN
SHRIKES*, two *LAPLAND LONGSPURS *(in Salicornia behind Hobuck spit) and
the continuing *SNOW GOOSE. *35 *BONAPARTE'S GULLS * seems a good number
for Neah Bay.
Cheers
Nigel
--
Nigel Ball
Bainbridge Island
nigelj.ball at gmail.com
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