[re-sending w/o formatting to squeeze into Tweeters size limit - sorry this was rejected last week!]

Saturday, October 21, 2017, the Washington Bird Records Committee met at the Slater Museum for its annual meeting. Here's a summary of our results.



60 reports were accepted as valid new records.

2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of records previously accepted at an earlier meeting.

21 reports were not accepted

1 decision was tabled for further research



The WBRC accepted two species new to the state list: Swallow-tailed Gull and Blue Grosbeak.

In addition, with the lumping of Thayer?s and Iceland Gull into Iceland Gull, one species was removed from the state checklist.


Two sub-species were removed from the review list,

Kumlien?s Iceland Gull, formerly reviewed as a separate species, will not be reviewed as a field-identifiable subspecies following the lump. The AOS decision to lump these species called into question the validity of a kumlieni group altogether, and as such the committee does not feel comfortable attempting to evaluate the taxon.

Red Fox Sparrow has proven regular enough in Washington to no longer merit as close scrutiny of every report


Washington State Checklist now stands at 518 species including 497 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 21 species which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).


Key:
Votes in parentheses (# accepted, # not accepted, # abstain)
[Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]


The results of this round's votes will eventually be posted on the WOS Website at http://wos.org/records.html, but here's a short list of the decisions from this meeting:




ACCEPTED RECORDS:


COEI-2017-1 Common Eider 6 January ? 9 May 2017, Purdy Spit, Pierce County, William Brooks [v], Joshua Glant [p], Eric Heisey [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Jeff Mills [p], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Mary Pearse & Richard Smethurst [p], Carol Riddell [p], Chris Rurik [p], Doug Schurman [p], Ryan Shaw [p], Jason Vassallo [p] (7-0-0).

NOTE: No subspecies determination was able to be reached for this report.

WWDO-2017-2 White-winged Dove 10-13 July 2017 - Selah, Yakima County, Kevin Lucas [w,p], Lamont McLachlan [p], Ed Pullen [p] (7-0-0).

YBCU-2017-1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2 September 2017 - Little Pend Oreille NWR, Stevens County, Penny Rose [w], Scott Hoskin [w] (7-0-0).

RNST-2017-1 Red-necked Stint 8-12 July 2017 - Crockett Lake, Whidbey Island, Island County, Adrian Lee [w,p], Ryan Merrill [w,p], Ann Marie Wood [w,p], Ben Knoot [p], Tom Mansfield [p], Alex Patia [p], Carol Riddell [p], Jennifer Standish [p], Gregg Thompson [p] (7-0-0).

SCMU-1998-2 Scripps's Murrelet 13 September 1998 - off shore, about 25 miles offshore, at 124 47 and 54 N, Grays Harbor County, 2 birds, Bill Tweit [w] (7-0-0).

GUMU-2017-1 Guadalupe Murrelet 22 July 2017 - Westport Pelagic, 46 45.2, -124 54.1, Grays Harbor County, 2 birds, Bill Shelmerdine [w], Michael Morrison [p] (7-0-0).

STGU-2017-1 Swallow-tailed Gull 31 August - 10 September 2017 - Carkeek Park, Seattle, Wells Point, Edmonds, Everett Marina, Everett, King, Snohomish County, Ryan Merrill [w, p], Brad Waggoner [w, p], Matt Bartels [w], Marv Breece [p], Dasha Gudalewicz [p], Tom Mansfield [p], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p], Carol Riddell [p], Jennifer Standish [p], Ann Marie Wood [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The committee also voted unanimously that this was likely of wild origin. FIRST WASHINGTON RECORD

LIGU-2017-1 Little Gull 17 May 2017 - Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Michael Barry [w, p] (7-0-0).

LAGU-2017-1 Laughing Gull 3 May 2017 - Potholes Reservoir, Grant County, Michael Adams [w, p] (7-0-0).

SBGU-2017-2 Slaty-backed Gull 4 February 2017 - Westhaven SP, Westport, Grays Harbor County, Bill Shelmerdine [w], William Brooks [p], Randy Hill [p], Alex Patia [p] (7-0-0).

STAL-2017-1 Short-tailed Albatross 3 May 2017 - 47 96.4 N, 126.36.0 W, Clallam County, Ken Lane [w, p] (7-0-0).

MUPE-2016-3 Murphy's Petrel 4 May 2016 - 46.158, -125.265, 93km WSW of Cape Disappointment, Pacific County, Ronald Thorn [w] (7-0-0).NOTE: Though occurring near the same time and place as MUPE-2016-1, the committee decided to treat 2016-3 as a separate individual record.

MUPE-2017-1 Murphy's Petrel 4 May 2017 - 45.990, -125.228, Pacific County, Paul Lehman [w] (7-0-0).

MUPE-2017-2 Murphy's Petrel 4 May 2017 - 46.011, -125.229, Pacific County, Paul Lehman [w], Alex Abela [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Though occurring near each other, the committee decided to treat 2017-1 and 2017-2 as separate individual records.

MASH-2001-3 Manx Shearwater 6 May 2001 - off-shore, Grays Harbor County, John Bjorkman [w]. Bruce LaBar [w] (7-0-0).

BRBO-2017-1 Brown Booby 19 August 2017 - Aleck Bay, Lopez Island, San Juan County, Daphne Morris [w, p] (7-0-0).

SNEG-1987-2 Snowy Egret 3 April - 25 May 1987 - Whitman Mission, Walla Walla County, Mike & Merry Lynn Denny [w], Ken Knittle [w], Tim Whitehouse [w], Devon Graham[w] fide Larry McCloskey (6-1-0).

SNEG-2000-4 Snowy Egret 13 May 2000 - Tokeland, Pacific County, Bruce LaBar [w] (7-0-0).

STFL-2017-1 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 3 June 2017 - Umtanum Rd. x Overlook Rd., Kittitas County, Lino Martinez [w, p] (7-0-0).

EUSK-2017-1 Eurasian Skylark 13 May 2017 - Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Ryan Merrill [w, p], Brad Waggoner [w] (7-0-0).

BGGN-2016-1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Eastern subspecies) 7 October 2016, Neah Bay ? Jetty, Clallam County, Brad Waggoner [w, p] (7-0-0)

BGGN-2016-2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Eastern subspecies) 16-29 October 2016, Neah Bay ? town, Clallam County, Adrianne Akmajian [p], Hope Anderson [p], Michael Barry [p], John Gatchet [p], Jordan Gunn [p], Eric Heisey [p], Tom Mansfield [p], Alex Patia [p], Dennis Paulson [p], Doug Schurman [p], Brad Waggoner [p] (7-0-0).

BGGN-2016-3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Eastern subspecies) 31 October ? 1 December 2016, Neah Bay ? Ba?adah Village, Clallam County, Blair Bernson [p], John Gatchet [p], Ryan Merrill [p], Charlie Wright [a] (7-0-0).

BGGN-2016-4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Eastern subspecies) 3 November ? 5 December 2016, Neah Bay ? town, Clallam County, Michael Barry [p], Blair Bernson [p], John Gatchet [p], Eric Heisey [p], Ryan Merrill[p], Carol Riddell [p], Doug Schurman [p] (7-0-0).
BGGN-2017-1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (subspecies not determined) 7 May 2017 - Bethel Ridge Rd., Yakima County, Dave Poortinga [w] (7-0-0).

BGGN-2017-2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Western subspecies) 22 May 2017 - Horn Rapids Park, Richland, Benton County, Lisa Hill [w], Jane Abel [p] (7-0-0).

BRTH-2008-3 Brown Thrasher 21 August 2008 - Sprague Lake, Lincoln County, Jim Acton [w] (7-0-0).

RUBU-2001-1 Rustic Bunting 7 January 2001 ? 3 April 2001, 31 Dec ember 2001 - early spring 2002 - Loop Road, near Grays River, Wahkiakum County, Rick Hudson [w], Russ Koppendrayer [w], Robert Pyle [w], Alan Richards [w] (7-0-0).

TBFS-2017-1 "Thick-billed" Fox Sparrow 30 April - 27 May 2017 - Snowden Rd., Klickitat County, Stuart Johnston [w], Matt Bartels [w, a, p] (7-0-0).

RFSP-2017-3 "Red" Fox Sparrow 13 - 27 March 2017 - Bellingham, Whatcom County, Joe Mackie [w, p] (7-0-0).

SOSP-1978-1 eastern Song Sparrow 27 February 1978 - Montlake Fill, Seattle, King County, UWBM.32610 fide Dennis Paulson and Dave Slager (7-0-0). STATE FIRST RECORD OF THIS SUBSPECIES.

SOSP-2016-1 eastern Song Sparrow 9 January 2016 - Potlatch SP, Mason County, Jon Anderson [p] (7-0-0).

SOSP-2016-2 eastern Song Sparrow 28-29 October and 5 December 2016 - Neah Bay, Clallam County, (Oct sighting) Brad Waggoner [p], Jordan Gunn [p], Ryan Shaw [p]; (Dec sighting) Joshua Covill [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Earlier and later sightings considered to both be of the same individual.

GHJU-2017-1 Gray-headed Dark-eyed Junco 2 January - ~12 February 2017 - Trout Lake, Klickitat County, Jim & Kathy White [w, p], Linda Steider [p] (7-0-0).

OROR-2016-1 Orchard Oriole 28 October ? 5 November 2016, Neah Bay [in town, then Ba?adah], Clallam County, Mike Resch [w], Brad Waggoner [w,p], John Gatchet [p], Jordan Gunn [p], Eric Heisey [p], Ryan Merrill [p], Doug Schurman [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The committee agreed that (at least) two Orchard Orioles were present in Neah Bay in Fall 2016, but the specific division of documentation represented by these records is not as confidently asserted.

OROR-2016-2 Orchard Oriole 28 October ? 22 November 2016, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Mike Resch [w], John Gatchet [p], Blair Bernson [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: The committee agreed that (at least) two Orchard Orioles were present in Neah Bay in Fall 2016, but the specific division of documentation represented by these records is not as confidently asserted.
OROR-2016-3 Orchard Oriole 18-24 December 2016 - Johnson Point, Olympia, Thurston County, Bill Tweit [w], Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0).
HOOR-2017-1 Hooded Oriole 30 May - 3 June 2017 - Renton, King County, Nadine Drisseq [w, p], Joshua Rudolph [w], Dave Slager [w, a] (7-0-0).

COGR-2017-1 Common Grackle 23 April 2017 - Latah Valley, Spokane, Spokane County, Harold Cottet (7-0-0).

COGR-2017-2 Common Grackle 5 May 2017 - Mansfield, Douglas County, Shey Claflin (7-0-0).

COGR-2017-3 Common Grackle 11 May 2017 - Huntsville, Columbia County, George Gagnon [w, p] (7-0-0).

GTGR-2010-2 Great-tailed Grackle 3 July 2010 - Konnowac Pass, Moxee, Yakima County, Denny Granstrand [p] (7-0-0).

GTGR-2017-1 Great-tailed Grackle 11 May 2017 - Pullman, Whitman County, Marcus Hooker [w, p] (7-0-0).

GTGR-2017-2 Great-tailed Grackle 31 May 2017 and 16 July 2017 - Potholes State Park, Grant County, (May sighting) Carol Riddell [w, p]; (July sighting) Sarah Murphy [w, p], Aaron Rowe [w] (7-0-0). NOTE: Earlier and later sightings considered to both be of the same individual.

BAWW-2017-1 Black-and-white Warbler 6 May 2017 - Mansfield, Douglas County, Shey Claflin [w, p, v] (7-0-0).

HOWA-2017-1 Hooded Warbler 9 June 2017 - Vancouver, Clark County, Ryan Abe [p], Jim Danzenbaker [w, a], Robert Flores [w], Randy Hill [w] (7-0-0).

MAWA-2017-1 Magnolia Warbler 7 June 2017 - East Wenatchee, Douglas County, Jerry Tangren [w,a] (7-0-0).

MAWA-2017-2 Magnolia Warbler 22 June 2017 - Discovery Park, Seattle, King County, David Olsen [w, p] (7-0-0).

CSWA-2016-3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 17 August 2016 - Tatoosh Island, Clallam County, Tim Wootton [w] (7-0-0).

CSWA-2017-1 Chestnut-sided Warbler 9 June 2017 - Lion's Park/Ephrata Cemetery, Ephrata, Grant County, Matt Yawney [w, a] (7-0-0).

CSWA-2017-2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 10 June 2017 - Umtanum Creek, Yakima County, Mike Charest [w, p] (7-0-0).

CSWA-2017-3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 16 August 2017 - Nisqually NWR, Thurston County, Jon Anderson [w, p], Donna LaCasse [p] (7-0-0).

CSWA-2017-4 Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 September 2017 - Washougal, Skamania County, Wilson Cady [w, p] (7-0-0).

BLPW-2015-4 Blackpoll Warbler 30 June 2015 - Tatoosh Island, Clallam County, Tim Wootton [w] (7-0-0).

BLPW-2017-1 Blackpoll Warbler 30 May 2015 - Patrick Park, Ephrata, Grant County, Matt Yawney [w, p] (7-0-0).

BTBW-2016-2 Black-throated Blue Warbler 17 October 2016 - Diablo Dam Rd., Whatcom County, Daniel Dubie [w] (7-0-0).

BLGR-2016-1 Blue Grosbeak 16 November 2016 - Neah Bay, Clallam County, Robert Flores [w, p], Randy Hill [w] (7-0-0). FIRST WASHINGTON RECORD.

INBU-2017-1 Indigo Bunting 10 June - 23 July 2017 - Audubon Rd., Wenas, Yakima County, Jason Fidorra [w, p, v], Michael Hobbs [w], Ivar Husa [p], Tom Mansfield [p[, Grace & Ollie Oliver [a, p], Matt Bartels [a] (7-0-0).

DICK-2016-2 Dickcissel 17-18 October 2016, Butler?s Feeders, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Hope Anderson [w, p], Michael Barry [p], John Gatchet[p] (7-0-0).

DICK-2016-3 Dickcissel 20-23 October 2016, Wa?atch Beach Feeders, Neah Bay , Clallam County, Adrianne Akmajian [p], Jon Isacoff [p], Ryan Merrill [p], Alex Patia [p], Brian Pendleton [p], Shep Thorp [p], Brad Waggoner [p] (7-0-0).

RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:


Slaty-backed Gull in Benton County: The committee agreed that the Nov 2016-Jan 2017 record of a Slaty-backed Gull in Benton County (formerly treated as SBGU-2016-3) is best treated as a returning instance of SBGU-2016-1, the prior sighting of this species in the area the previous winter. The two records are merged and treated as SBGU-2016-1.

Dates and observation info for Nov 2016-Jan 2017 observations: Slaty-backed Gull ? 12 November 2016 ? 21 January 2017, Bateman Island Marina, Kennewick, Benton County, Philip Bartley [w], James Cleaver [w, p, v], Lisa Hill [p] (7-0-0).

Snowy Egret in Pierce County: The committee agreed that the November 2016 sighting of Snowy Egret in Pierce County (formerly treated as SNEG-2016-3) is best treated as a continuing instance of SNEG-2016-1 from July and August nearby. The two records are merged and treated as SNEG-2016-1.

Dates and observation info for Nov 2016 observations: Snowy Egret ? 4-8 November 2016, Orting, Pierce County, Peter Wimberger [w, p], Mike Resch [w, p], Mike Charest [p], (7-0-0).



REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:

BATE-2017-1 Baikal Teal 20 July 2017 - Little Cove Rd., Mail Route Rd., Whitman County (0-7-0).

COEI-2017-2 Common Eider 15 May 2017 - Middle Point, Clallam Bay, Clallam County (0-7-0).

WWDO-2017-1 White-winged Dove 12 April 2017 - Mud Mountain Rd., Enumclaw, King County (0-6-1).

YBCU-2007-1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 25 June 2007 - Struthers Farm, Walla Walla County (4-3-0).

RNST-2017-2 Red-necked Stint 13-14 July 2017 - Deer Lagoon, Whidbey Island, Island County (0-7-0).

IVGU-2017-1 Ivory Gull 26 May 2017 - Columbia River nr Prosser, 45.9235, -119.5583, Benton County (0-7-0).

BTGU-2017-1 Black-tailed Gull 16 March 2017 - San Juan County Park, San Juan Island, San Juan County (0-7-0).

SBGU-1997-1 Slaty-backed Gull 18 January 1997 - Fir Island, Skagit County (0-7-0).

MUPE-2017-3 Murphy's Petrel 12 May 2017 - off shore, 46.406565,-125.562865, Pacific County (2-5-0).

WISP-2017-1 Wilson's Storm-Petrel 2 September 2017 - 47.03, 124.57 Westport Pelagic, Grays Harbor County (1-6-0).

STSE-1989-1 Steller's Sea-Eagle late February - early March 1989 - Between Hoh & Quinalt river mouths, Jefferson County (0-7-0).

ALFL-2017-1 Alder Fycatcher 13-19 June 2017 - Saltese Wetlands, Spokane County (0-7-0).

EUSK-2017-2 Eurasian Skylark 18 July 2017 - Anacortes Airport, Skagit County (0-7-0).

HETH-2012-1 eastern Hermit Thrush 5 November 2012 - Anacortes, Skagit County (0-7-0).

PHAI-2017-1 Phainopepla 4 May 2017 - Puyallup, Pierce County (0-6-1).

RFSP-2017-4 "Red" Fox Sparrow 2 May 2017 - Mansfield, Douglas County (1-5-1).

PSJU-2016-1 pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco 20 October 2016 - University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Pierce County (1-6-0).

TEWA-2016-1 Tennessee Warbler 4 December 2016 - Neah Bay, Clallam County (2-5-0).

BLPW-2017-2 Blackpoll Warbler 30 June 2017 - Close to 12-Mile Bank, 48 14.6 N, 124 59.7 W, Clallam County (3-4-0).

BTBW-2017-1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 3 April 2017 - Battle Ground, Clark County (1-6-0).

INBU-2017-2 Indigo Bunting 8 August 2017 - Steptoe Canyon, Whitman County (2-4-1).


REPORTS DEFERRED FOR FURTHER REVIEW:

Subspecies ID for EUSK-2017-1 Eurasian Skylark 13 May 2017 - Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County. The Committee accepted this record to species, but plans to confer with outside authorities on whether or not a subspecies identification can be ascertained.

ADDITIONAL ACTIONS:

Thick-billed Murre records from 2012, 2013, 2015 at Port Angeles. The committee re-evaluated the records from three successive winters in the harbor at Port Angeles, Clallam County and decided to merge them into a single record of a returning bird.

TBMU-2012-2, TBMU-2013-3, and TBMU-2015-1 will all be treated as TBMU-2012-2.



Charlie Wright rotated off the committee at the conclusion of this meeting. Ryan Merrill has re-joined the WBRC as Charlie's replacement.

Updates to the state list, review list and master checklist on line will be completed before long and posted.
I welcome any questions about the status of past decisions or any new report submissions,

Matt Bartels

Secretary, WBRC
Seattle, WA