Mike Clarke and I returned to Biscuit Ridge at
7:00 a.m. this morning. We went to the same spot
where we had the Green Tailed Towhee last night
hoping for a better view and pictures. This spot
is about 1.1-1.2 miles past the spot described in
the Opperman book. We had a male singing
immediately - on its own and in response to
recording - moreso to call notes. Try as hard as
we could, we could not get the bird to come up to
us. It was singing about 100-150 yards straight
downhill. We found a way to walk somewhat closer
(very steep downhill) and found two juveniles in a
shrub very close. They generally remained buried
in the shrub but showed themselves somewhat in the
open briefly and we got some mediocre photos. A
single adult joined them briefly but was buried.
Interestingly there was also an adult
MacGillivray's warbler that remained in the same
bush. During most of this time the distant adult
continued to sing/call but would not move closer.
We do not know if this was a second bird or if
somehow it had come into the bush and then
returned. I think the adult in the bush was more
likely a female with the two juveniles. I am
pretty sure that anyone going to this spot will
readily find the bird vocally. But it is very
steep and heading down towards the bird(s) for a
view/photo is chancy at best. We saw both the
juvies and the adult move back and forth between
the shrubs (roses?) and the pines next to them.

Also note that there were a number of Spotted
Towhees in the same territory and at one time one
even came into the same brush. We only saw
juveniles (at least 3) but heard the buzz call of
the adult frequently.

After working hard for the Towhees we went back up
to the road and clearly heard what is now
designated Cordilleran Flycatcher - as part of the
split of Western into that and Pacific Slope. The
bird both sang and called --- exactly like the
recordings on I-Bird Pro and Sibley for
Cordilleran. The call is quite distinctive. It
also responded consistently and quickly to our
playing the Cordilleran call flying into
trees/shrubs all around us and clearly searching
for the other "bird". Mike recorded the bird
singing and I have good photos. I am not sure
myself that there should be a split...but this
bird was dead on for what today goes for
Cordilleran. Note that there were also Dusky
Flycatchers in the same area and numerous Willow
Flycatchers were also on the Ridge.

--
Blair Bernson
Edmonds