Subject: [Tweeters] West Seattle migrants
Date: Aug 26 22:33:58 2016
From: Ed Swan - Edswan2 at comcast.net


Nothing spectacular or unusual but it was interesting to see in the climax
of the heat from 5:30-6:30 this afternoon/evening quite a bit of activity.
The resident towhees, Song Sparrows, Bewick's Wrens, Bushtits, House
Finches, Anna's Hummingbirds, creepers, nuthatches and both chicks were
active but also a number of flycatchers, warblers, vireos and tanagers. The
tanagers were definitely migrating through with at least four feeding
actively when they've only had a scattered presence in the spring and summer
and I also had a Black-throated Grey Warbler first sighting since we moved
here 18 months ago. Also present were at least one each of Pacific-slope
Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Orange-crowned Warbler and Wilson's Warbler.
All of these species were present through the spring and to some extent into
summer, so it's hard to tell if they were migrants or birds that bred or
were born this year. All were feeding pretty actively and at the same time
chasing each other. The warblers especially seemed obsessed with chasing
the chickadees as they went back and forth from the woods to the feeder.



I also saw the Black Turnstones back, about 20 or so, along the rip rap just
north of the water taxi dock and a number of Savannah Sparrows. Do the
turnstones always come back this early this far into the Sound?



Ed Swan

Nature writer and guide

edswan2 at comcast.net <mailto:edswan2 at comcast.net>

206.949.3545

www.theswancompany.com