Hi Tweets,

Although these gorgeous little guys are supposed to be common summer residents, I've not had much luck photographing them. Finally today, while trying to keep my eye on one of the multiple elusive Pacific-slope Flycatchers that'd been calling loudly but hiddenly, another movement caught my eye. This Black-throated Gray was gathering nesting material from an upturned root mass from a tree downed in the 2006-ish windstorm (whose 90 mph winds bowled over a number of our Lincoln Park forest greats).

I'm curious about how widely away from their nest they do their foraging. For instance, could I expect that there'd be a BTYW nest within 10 yards? 50? 2?

Secondly, Sibley indicates that the adult female would have a black band across her throat, the adult male has the eponymous black throat, and the first-winter juvenile has a pale throat. However, he also says the first-winter bird is generally August-March, so it seems kind of late for that now in mid-May. Or do they often retain their juvenile plumage longer? This bird has a pale throat and no black band.

Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/trileigh/.

Thanks, as always,
Trileigh

Trileigh Tucker
Lincoln Park, West Seattle
Natural history website: naturalpresence.wordpress.com
Flickr page: flickr.com/photos/trileigh