Hi Tweeters & Inland NW Birders -

The Washington Bird Records Committee [WBRC] has completed its review of its Spring 2015 interim packet.

The WBRC normally meets annually in October, but often also circulates an ?interim? packet half way between meetings. This allows the committee to process a number of reports where it is relatively easy to reach consensus without discussion. Because the committee does not meet in person to discuss these reports, a greater level of voting consensus is required to ?accept? or ?not accept? a report. Many reports will be carried over until the October meeting for final deliberations.

30 received 7 yes votes, and are thus passed w/o need for further discussion.
8 received 4 or more 'no' votes, and are thus not accepted.
15 reports were deferred for more consideration at the Fall meeting.


3 new species are added to the state list:
Spotted Redshank
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Lucy's Warbler

This brings the official Washington State Checklist to 510 species.

ACCEPTED RECORDS:

BRBO-2014-2, Brown Booby - 143nm w of Pt. Brown, Grays Harbor County, 17 August 2014 Michael Force [w,p] (7-0-0).

SNEG-2014-1, Snowy Egret - Ridgefield NWR, Clark County, 10/13 - 12/3/2014, Randy Hill [w,p], Doug Schurman [w,p] (7-0-0).

LBHE-2014-1, Little Blue Heron - Fir Island, Skagit County, 14 September 2014, Doug Schurman [w, p], Michael Hobbs [w,p], Jeff Mills [w, p] (7-0-0).

LBHE-2014-2, Little Blue Heron - Spokane, Spokane County, 17 November 2014, Wendy Klaue [w], Carrie Lowe [w,p] (7-0-0).

CAEG-2014-1, Cattle Egret - Neah Bay, Clallam County, 10/30 - 11/11/ 14, Doug Schurman [p], Randy Hill [w, p], Michael Charest [p], Len & Dian Jellicoe [p] (7-0-0).

CAEG-2014-2, Cattle Egret - Bay Center, Pacific County, 8 November 2014, Tom Mansfield [p], MaryFrances Mathis [w] (7-0-0).

CAEG-2014-3, Cattle Egret - Satsop, Grays Harbor County, 11/9-11/14, Carol Riddell [p], Matt Bartels [w] (7-0-0).

MOPL-2014-1, Mountain Plover - Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, 11/8-15/14, Michael Charest [p] (7-0-0).

SPRE-2014-1, Spotted Redshank - Hayton Preserve, Fir Island, Skagit County, 11/27 - 12/1/2014, Ginger Rebstock [w], Jeff Bryant [w] (7-0-0). WA State First Record.

TBMU-2015-1, Thick-billed Murre - Ediz Hook, Port Angeles, Clallam County, 1/3-20/2015, Bob Boekelheide[w], Ryan Merrill [w,p] (7-0-0).

BHGU-2014-2, Black-headed Gull - South Bend, Pacific County, 10/28 - 11/5/2014, Bob Flores [w, p], Jim Danzenbaker [w,p] (7-0-0).

LIGU-2014-1, Little Gull - Jensen Access, Skagit County, 24 October 2014, Evan Houston [w, p], Ryan Merrill [w, p] (7-0-0).

HERG-2014-1, "Vega" Herring Gull - Waatch River Mouth, Clallam County, 26 October 2014, Steve Mlodinow [w,p], Ryan Merrill [p] (7-0-0).

BBLH-2014-1, Broad-billed Hummingbird - Carson, Skamania County, 10/25-26/14, Matt Schroeder [p, w], Matt Bartels [w] (7-0-0). WA State First Record.

EHOB-2014-1, Eurasian Hobby - Waatch River Valley, Clallam County, 10/26/14 - 11/1/14, Steve Mlodinow [w,p], Doug Schurman [p], Scott Ramos [p], Fanter Lane [p], Chris Rurik [p], Ryan Merrill [p], Charlie Wright [p] (7-0-0).

BGGN-2014-1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Neah Bay, Clallam County, 11/7-10/14, Brad Waggoner [w, p], Michael Charest [p], Alan Richards [w] (7-0-0). (Subspecies ID decision deferred to Fall meeting)

NOWH-2014-1, Northern Wheatear - Pt. Robinson, Vashon Island, King County, 10/18-21/14, Doug Schurman [p], Chris Rurik [p], Martha Taylor [w,p], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Evan Houston [p], Ed Swan [p], George Pagos [p], Gregg Thompson [p], Tom Mansfield [p] (7-0-0).

OVEN-2014-4, Ovenbird - Anacortes, Skagit County, 11 September 2014, Ryan Schain [w] (7-0-0).

BAWW-2011-4, Black-and-White Warbler - Seattle, King County, 9 May 2011, Nathan Keen [w] (7-0-0).

BAWW-2014-4, Black-and-White Warbler - Washtucna, Adams County, 9/11-13/14, Keith Brady [w], Randy Hill [w,p], Matt Bartels[w], Tom Mansfield [p], (7-0-0).

BAWW-2014-5, Black-and-White Warbler - Spokane, Riverside Park, Spokane County, 31 December 2014, Patrick McKann [w] (7-0-0). (later resightings not reviewed yet)

LUWA-2014-1, Lucy's Warbler - Neah Bay, Clallam County, 11/6-7/14, Brad Waggoner [w] (7-0-0). WA State First Record.

CSWA-2014-1, Chestnut-sided Warbler - Konnowac Pass, Yakima County, 9/15-17/2014, Ellen & Andy Stepniewski [p], Debie Brown[w], Karen Zook [p], Tom Mansfield [p], Keith Brady [w] (7-0-0).

OROR-2014-1, Orchard Oriole - Neah Bay, Clallam County, 26 Oct 2014 - at least 15 Feb 2015, Steve Mlodinow [w,p], Doug Schurman [p], Scott Ramos [p], Fanter Lane [p], Ryan Merrill [w, p], Alan Richards [w] (7-0-0).

HOOR-2014-1, Hooded Oriole - Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County, 11/8-10/14, Arnie Martin [p], Tom Mansfield [p], Lynn & John Ogren [p,w] (7-0-0).

BRAM-2014-1, Brambling - Neah Bay, Clallam County, 10/30 - 11/7/14, Tom Mansfield [p], Doug Schurman [p], Scott Ramos [p], Fanter Lane [p], Randy Hill [p, w], George Pagos [p], Len & Dian Jellicoe [p] (7-0-0).

BRAM-2014-2, Brambling - Port Hadlock, Jefferson County, 11/5-9/14, Paula Vanderheul [w], David Gluckman [p], Randy Hill [p, w] (7-0-0).

BRAM-2015-1, Brambling - Issaquah, King County, 4 February 2015 to present, Frances & Dan Pope [w, p], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Evan Houston [p], Tom Mansfield [p], Michael Hobbs [w], Matt Bartels [w], Brian Bell [p] (7-0-0).

PUFI-2012-1, "Eastern" Purple Finch - Bradley Lake, Pierce County, 20 November 2012, Charlie Wright [w, a] (7-0-0).

PUFI-2014-1, "Eastern" Purple Finch - Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, 15 December 2014, Brad Waggoner [w,p] (7-0-0).


REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:

ARLO-2014-3, Arctic Loon - Reach Island, Mason County, 27 December 2014 (0-7-0).

ARLO-2015-1, Arctic Loon - Larrabee SP, Whatcom County, 1/9-23/2015 (0-7-0).

ARLO-2015-2, Arctic Loon - Luhr Beach, Thurston County, 1/15-16/2015, (0-7-0).

ARLO-2015-3, Arctic Loon - Tramp Harbor, Vashon Island, Kng County, 17 January 2015, (0-7-0).

LEBI-2014-1, Least Bittern - Centralia Steam Plant, Lewis County, 5 September 2014 (0-6-1).

SEWR-2014-1, Sedge Wren - Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County, 19 November 2014 (0-7-0).

CARW-2014-1, Carolina Wren - Seattle, King County, 15 March 2014 (0-7-0).

CONW-2009-1, Connecticut Warbler - Sammamish, King County, 13 September 2009 (1-5-1).

The results and an updated state checklist will eventually be posted on the wos.org website.

The committee continues to depend on submissions from the community, and I'd urge you to submit reports for rarities on the review list when you observe them. A form for submitting reports can be found at: http://wos.org/observation_exported/observation.php

I welcome any questions about the status of past decisions or any new report submissions,

Matt Bartels
Secretary, WBRC
Seattle, WA