Hi Tweeters and Inland NW Birders -

An updated version of the 2021 County Year List Project is up and available at Washington Birder. Almost all 39 counties sent in updates of the year list at the mid-way point. Thanks compilers for all your work, and thanks everyone who has contributed.

I think of the mid-year check-in as a relatively stable time of year to compare across years -; The end of June finds us mostly done with spring migration, and still ahead of fall migration.

Here's how things look compared with recent years:

We've tallied 363 species statewide as of the mid-way point in 2021. That's just about in line w/ the average for this point over the last 10 years [364], and it is 5 higher than 2020 at this point.

In Western WA, our 334 total is 6 higher than last year at the mid-way point, likely largely a factor of having pelagic trips in the first half of this year, unlike 2020. The total ties our highest for this point since 2012, and we are above average [326] by a good amount.

In Eastern WA, our 302 species tallied is one higher than last year and likewise one above the longer average for check-ins at this point.

29 Counties have a total within 10 species of the check-in at this point last year - even the Covid disruptions can't make too big a dent in some of the stability in species found.

23 counties are higher than they were at this point last year, 13 are lower, and 3 [Klickitat, Lincoln & Skagit] ae at exactly the same total as last year's check-in.

63 species have been seen in all 39 counties, and 156 species have been found in 30 or more counties -; that's our core of wide-spread regulars, and pretty similar to other years at this point.

Looking at species tallied last year but not this year yet, the 12 in this category are mostly rare birds that aren't surprising to see in some years and not in others. The most surprising 'misses' to me are Black-and-white Warbler & Indigo Bunting - neither or which is a sure thing in any given 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 2021 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.

Good birding,



Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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