Hi Tweeters & Inland NW Birders

An updated version of the 2020 County Yearlist Project is up and available at Washington Birder. We've updated almost all 39 counties as of the end of August Thanks to everyone who has contributed by sending county compilers their sightings &/or posting on eBird.

The cut-off at the end of August is always a little less than ideal, as it comes right when fall migrants begin to ramp up. Nevertheless, it is helpful to compare where things stand every two months.

Statewide, we've reported 378 species as of the end of August - that's ten better than the same point last year. Western WA stands at 344 species, four higher than last year. Eastern WA has 312 species reported, 12 better than last year at this point.
This marks a solid turn-around from the low totals a the mid-way point this year -; basically, we've added in Pelagic birds and a few extra surprises, and that has pulled us into a decent position for the year.

15 counties are doing worse than they were at this point last year, while 22 are doing better. Clark and Stevens counties have reported exactly the same total, despite the wildly different years. 28 counties have totals within 10 of last year's total -; Overall, this is remarkably consistent given everything 2020 has thrown at us.

66 species have been reported in all 39 counties, and 157 have been reported in 30 or more counties -;

Overall, for all the covid and fire/smoke disruptions, the composite bird picture looks remarkably stable. It does appear we've had a pretty unexciting fall migration for shorebird vagrants, with only Curlew Sandpiper and an Upland Sandpiper coming in as WBRC review list-level rarities. It is too early to talk confidently about passerine fall vagrants, but so far we've haven't seen much in the way of unusual warblers -; with Neah Bay being likely inaccessible, this might persist as a pattern for the year.

If you'd like to take a look at where things stand, the list and many other interesting files are at the Washington Birder website:

http://www.wabirder.com/ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.wabirder.com/__;!!JYXjzlvb!zG34Bg6bHN7DFbBBUaTDwShMg1FqqyJYn5MFZzMWbfTt3uAOqMTkSTJu0EzT-2kdesFyODa5qw$>


A direct link to the 2020 county yearlist & the list of county compilers contact info:
http://www.wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.wabirder.com/county_yearlist.html__;!!JYXjzlvb!zG34Bg6bHN7DFbBBUaTDwShMg1FqqyJYn5MFZzMWbfTt3uAOqMTkSTJu0EzT-2kdesFgZPFJVA$>


Thanks to all the compilers and all those pitching in to sketch a picture of another year's birds in WA. Stay safe everyone,




Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA

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