WBRC Spring 2025 MEETING RESULTS

On Thursday, May 22, 2025, the Washington Bird Records Committee met via zoom for its spring meeting.

A summary of our results:
21 reports were accepted as valid new records.
2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of records previously accepted at earlier meetings.
10 reports were not accepted.
2 reports were tabled for further review


The state checklist remains at 528 species, including 515 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 13 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]


ACCEPTED RECORDS:

BESW-2024-2, "Bewick's" Tundra Swan -; 15 December 2024 - 8 March 2025, Polson Rd./Fir Island, Skagit County. Joshua Bassett [p], Sandy Pringle [p], Eric Ray [p] (7-0-0).

BESW-2025-1, "Bewick's" Tundra Swan -; 8 January - 12 February 2025, Field's Riffle, Snohomish, Snohomish County. Charlotte Byers [p], Peter Erickson [p], Joey McCracken [p], Maxine Reid [p], Kellie Sagen [p] (7-0-0).

BESW-2025-2, "Bewick's" Tundra Swan -; 19 January, 22-25 March 2025, W. Badger Road and Loomis Trail Road, Lynden, Whatcom County. RJ Baltierra [p], Stephen Chase [p], Phil Wegener [p] (7-0-0).

WHOS-2024-2, Whooper Swan -; 11 December 2024 - 17 January 2025, Jones Rd., Sumas, Whatcom County. Stephen Chase [p], Sia McGown [p], Carol Riddell [p], Valentina Roumi [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).

KIEI-2024-1, King Eider -; 24-30 November 2024, Ocean Shores STP, Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Maxine Reid [p], Alexander Sowers [p] (7-0-0).

UPSA-2024-2, Upland Sandpiper -; 1 November 2024, Roosevelt Beach, Ocean Grove, Grays Harbor County. Brandon Prim [p] (7-0-0).

LIGU-2024-2, Little Gull -; 28 October 2024, Deadman's Bay, San Juan Island, San Juan County. Ross Lockwood [w, p] (7-0-0).

SLBG-2024-3, Slaty-backed Gull -; 20 October 2024, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Ryan Merrill [p] (7-0-0).

ARLO-2024-1, Arctic Loon -; 28 December 2024 - 30 January 2025, Port Angeles waterfront, Clallam County. Bill Byers [p], Charlotte Byers [p], Dasha Gudalewicz [p], Steve Hampton [p], Ali Kasperzak [p], Barry McKenzie [p], Toby Ross [p], Lin Stern [p] (7-0-0).

YBSA-2024-2, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -; 25 November 2024, 121 Raven Rd., Port Townsend, Jefferson County. Andrew Palmer [w, p] (7-0-0).

YBSA-2025-1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -; 12 January - 24 March 2025, Eirinikos Grove, Puget Island, Wahkiakum County. Andrew Emlen [w, p], Jake Bonello [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).

WIWR-2024-1, Winter Wren -; 3-30 November 2024, Sentinel Bluffs, Grant County. Jef Blake [p], Vic Hubbard [p], Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Andrew Thomas [p], Matt Yawney [p] (7-0-0). First Eastern Washington record.

BRAM-2024-2, Brambling -; 6 November 2024, Cowgill Ave., Bellingham, Whatcom County. Joy Haertig [p], DJ Jones [w] (7-0-0).

BRAM-2025-1, Brambling -; 28 January - 24 March 2025, Lakeness Rd., Poulsbo, Kitsap County. Brad Waggoner [w, p], Bruce Youngberg [w, p], James Halsch [p], Ian Paulsen [p] (7-0-0).

SOSP-2025-1, "Eastern" Song Sparrow -; 1 January - 27 March 2025, Marymoor Park, Redmond, King County. Raphael Fennimore [p], Carl Haynie [p], Ryan Merrill [p], Emilie Reynolds [p], Jordan Roderick [p], Nathan Wall [p] (6-1-0).

OROR-2024-4, Orchard Oriole -; 30 November - 8 December 2024, 15-18 February 2025, Bayside Place, then 10th Street, Bellingham, Whatcom County. Jefferson Ashby [w, p], Robert Blenk [w, p, v], Marion Hill [w, p] (7-0-0).

MAWA-2024-4, Magnolia Warbler -; 22 November 2024, Wenzel Slough Rd., Elma, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p] (7-0-0).

BTNW-2024-1, Black-throated Green Warbler -; 8-15 November 2024, Normandy Park, King County. Raphael Fennimore [w, p, v, a], Lin Stern [w, p], Nadine Drisseq [p], Kevin Waggoner [p] (7-0-0). First Western Washington record.


PARE-2024-1, Painted Redstart -; 8 December 2024, Spruce Rd., Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, San Juan County. Susan Key [w] (7-0-0).

SUTA-2025-1, Summer Tanager -; 1-6 January 2025, West Seattle, King County. Charlotte Byers [p], Greg Harrington [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Ryan Merrill [p], Sandy Pringle [p], Jordan Roderick [p] (7-0-0).

INBU-2025-1, Indigo Bunting -; 27 March - 5 April 2025, Issaquah, King County. James D Cotton [w, v], Raphael Fennimore [p], Greg Harrington [p], Eric Hope [p], Liam Wallace [p] (7-0-0).


RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:

Slaty-backed Gull in Eastern Washington: The committee agreed that the November 2024 -; March 2025 record of a Slaty-backed Gull in Benton and Franklin counties (formerly treated as SBGU-2024-4) is best treated as a returning instance of SBGU-2016-1, the prior sighting of this species in the area the previous seven winters. The two records are merged and treated as SBGU-2016-1.
Dates and observation info for November 2024 -; March 2025 occurrence: Slaty-backed Gull -; 2 November 2024 -; 2 March 2025, Pasco, Franklin County and Richland, Benton County. Phil Bartley [p], Jef Blake [p], Nathaniel Cooley [p], Elke Davis [p], Christopher Lindsey [p], Andy Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0).


Great-tailed Grackle in Moses Lake: The committee agreed that the January -; April 2025 record of a Great-tailed Grackle in Moses Lake, Grant County (formerly treated as GTGR-2025-1) is best treated as a returning instance of GTGR-2023-1. The two records are merged and treated as GTGR-2023-1.
Dates and observation info for January -; April 2025 occurrence: Great-tailed Grackle -; 15 January - 5 April 2025, Moses Lake, Grant County. Alexander Sowers [p], Andy Stepniewski [p], Darchelle Worley [p], (7-0-0).


REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED

BESW-2024-1, "Bewick's" Tundra Swan -; 22 January 2024, Norman Road, Stanwood, Snohomish County (2-5-0).

BTGU-2009-3, Black-tailed Gull -; 11 October 2009, Fishhook Park, Walla Walla County (0-7-0).

VEGU-2022-2, "Vega" Herring Gull -; 5 December 2022, Cedar River Mouth, Renton, King County (0-7-0).

STSE-2022-1, Steller's Sea-Eagle -; April 2022, unincorporated Snohomish, Snohomish County (0-5-2).

PHVI-2023-2, Philadelphia Vireo -; 19 May 2023, Sehome Hill Arboretum, Bellingham, Whatcom County (0-7-0).

EABL-2025-1, Eastern Bluebird [2] -; 17 February 2025, Cape Disappointment SP, Pacific County (0-7-0).

GCTH-2023-1, Gray-cheeked Thrush -; 23 September 2023, Doan Creek WA, College Place, Walla Walla County (0-7-0).

EYTH-2025-1, Eyebrowed Thrush -; 4 March 2025, Pekin Rd., Woodland, Cowlitz County (0-6-1).

SOSP-2024-1, "Eastern" Song Sparrow -; 28 April 2024, Klipsap Beach, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (0-7-0).

VIWA-2024-1, Virginia's Warbler -; 3 August 2024, Horn Rapids County Park, Benton County (2-5-0).


REPORTS TABLED:
The following reports will be reviewed after additional input is received:

CRCA-1985-1, Crested Caracara -; 26-27 October 1985, Detour/McDonald Rd., Walla Walla County.

OROR-2024-3, Orchard Oriole -; 22 October 2024, Neah Bay, Clallam County.

Details are now posted on the WOS website at: https://wos.org/records/votingsummary/spring-2025/

Best,

Matt Bartels
Secretary, WBRC