On a short walk into Farrell's Marsh (Steilacoom) today, the first bird
Cathy and I saw was our FOY Orange-crowned Warbler. While confirming it
through binoculars, another bird flushed up nearby and perched on a branch
not more than 30 feet away. It was a FOY Swainson's Thrush! It moved to
another perch just another 20 feet farther giving us a good look at the
breast streaking.

Though it is a common bird for Farrell's Marsh, it is considerably early
(by at least a week or ten days). I wonder what the earliest observation is
for Pierce County. Where might I find such info? Climate change can have
many effects I guess (?).

Greg Pluth
University Place