What I'd like to think is a likely territorial RED-EYED VIREO was found
this morning in the Lake Hills Greenbelt (LHG), Bellevue and maybe one I've
overlooked in recent days by virtue of just not being dialed in to catch
it's call. Look and listen for it at the Lake Hills Blvd crosswalk, northwest
across the lawn 100 feet or so along the west edge and bramble border high
in the alders and other deciduous trees. Very vocal and very insistent in
singing, singing for several minutes then quiet for one or two then
singing again, a pattern which continued throughout. Moves around a lot through
that area and alder strip which gets into a pretty boggy area the more
north you go but where the vireo seems to like it best. I first heard the
suspect song when coming east along the trail through the Larsen Lake SE side
hemlock/cedar grove but when I tried to access it from there to confirm the
ID, I got bogged (again), up to my calves and lost both shoes and socks
(again!), but found access obviously so much easier from the sidewalk & lawn
along LH Blvd. ...Duh! ...concrete sidewalk, dry lawn, what a concept; I
wonder who thought that up :-)) A frustrating bird, and it took me a good 20
minutes to chase the vireo down for visual confirmation due to the thick
foliage and the bird moving about a lot in the upper tier, but always
singing, and just had to be patient for it to finally show itself in an open spot.
If the Red-eyed Vireo is singing, it's loud, distinctive, and should be
easily hearable off to the NW from the LH Blvd crosswalk. I think this may
be a first record for Bellevue's Lake Hills Greenbelt.

Richard Rowlett
Bellevue (Eastgate), WA