Tweets, The last week or two has seen increased activity in my yard,
including an apparent family of Black-headed Grosbeaks (4-6 birds) feeding
on the seed pods on our golden chain tree plus various birds eating plums
and cherries. Above the din of young birds I was pleasantly surprised on
Saturday morning to hear a single call of a Red-eyed Vireo. I tracked it to
a young/fledged begging bird and one parent. Through the course of the
morning I heard them at various spots within a three-block radius -- far
from stationary. The nearest nesting vireos I am aware of are at least a
mile if not a mile-and-a-half away.
Last mid-March I observed a half-singing, mostly breeding-plumaged
"Audubon's" Warbler feeding on what little remained of the golden chain seed
pods or catkins. It was a cold day in early spring when apparently the
insect supply was nil. Good birding!
-- Paul Hicks / Tenino / phicks AT accessgrace DOT org