Tweeters,

Gorgeous day, so headed to JBLM (Lewis) to get rid of some recycling and to
bird. Bird-of-the-day had to be the singing HOUSE WREN I found in the
burned-off, snaggy, area just off Story Road, opposite the OP-10 sign.
That's a usual spot for this species, but it's the earliest I've found one.
(It was a 4-wren day at Lewis.) A close second for BOTD was a singing
CASSIN'S VIREO on the northeast side of Brandenburg Marsh. Again, this is
the spot that we've found them in past years, just not this early. And all
the usual places had PURPLE MARTINS.



I started at the Eastgate sentry post, where I heard a KILLDEER. I traveled
west along the north edge of the 91st Division Prairie, finding many singing
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, a few VIOLET-GREEN and more TREE SWALLOWS, and
several SAVANNAH SPARROWS. The OP-8 overlook produced SONG and the first of
many CHIPPING SPARROWS. Also found there were DARK-EYED JUNCO, AMERICAN
ROBIN, STELLER'S JAY, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. A flock of about 20 ROCK PIGEONS was unusual (all
were mostly a pale color, flying fast). At first I thought it was a flock of
Eurasian Collared Doves, but a better look confirmed them as ROPIs.)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were singing here, as well as at every stop and
along the roads that had trees. Those and the White-crowned Sparrows were
ubiquitous.



Continuing west, I found the first of many WESTERN BLUEBIRDS - a pair at
nestbox 20 (I believe there are over 300 nest boxes set up for bluebirds at
JBLM. Many get taken over by TREE SWALLOWS, but the bluebirds get their
share.) A RED-TAILED HAWK was in an oak tree, and one circled overhead. At
Nisqually Lake I found the first PURPLE MARTINS on the nest boxes at the
edge of the water. AMERICAN COOTS and a few MALLARDS were on the water, but
the distance and heat waves made scoping difficult for finding other water
birds. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were also there.



The area around the OP-10 sign at Story Road added PURPLE FINCHES, and
RUBY-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, as well as the HOUSE WREN. Along
the 2nd Division Range Road, I heard a BEWICK'S and a PACIFIC WREN, as well
as a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER.



On the way to the Muck Creek Bridge, I spotted an AMERICAN KESTREL near the
entrance to Range 74. At the bridge, were more Purple Martins overhead, and
new species for the day: RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD and WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS. I also
heard a WESTERN MEADOWLARK in the distance.



In addition to the Purple Martins, which were atop nest boxes, at
Brandenburg Marsh, I also found a MARSH WREN (making it a four-wren day), a
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and the CASSIN'S VIREO. I couldn't elicit any
Virginia Rail or Sora responses - but they're in my back yard, so I know
they're around. Chambers Lake was quiet, but at my first stop to scope the
lake, a BROWN CREEPER was working the moss on a Garry Oak right in front of
me. On the lake were about 40 RING-NECKED DUCKS, four WOOD DUCKS (three
males and one female), and a pair of BUFFLEHEADS.



The outside temp at home was 74.7 when I arrived - a very nice temperature
for a cool drink on the front porch.



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

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