Date: 4/1/26 12:59 pm From: Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] April Is here! April Is here!
AI h! AI h! AI h! AI h! April Is here! April Is here! I recognize that call ;-)
Happy April In hallowed lister land, this first day of which is a very happy one indeed for some of those whose sightings have been doubted. Recent application of AI has revealed, in a fresh release, that which has long been considered the only accurate way to distinguish a Ross's Goose from the very similar Snow Goose -- careful, non-flight observation of the size and shape of the Ross's Goose bill: small, triangular with a rather straight, not curved, edge where it meets the feathered face, and lacking the grin patch that's so obvious in many Snow Geese, and rather subtle depending on angle of view, and nearly absent on the many Ross's x Lesser Snow Geese hybrids -- Well that's Absolutely Indeed hooeey (AI h -- the h is ineffable). [My sincere apologies to all cognoscenti who found that Acronym Included hastily.] AIh has determined with Authoritative, Indisputable hubris that it's much more Accurate Indeed having brief views of a small-ish, white-ish goose, in flight, that don't show the bill shape, And Instead have no good view of even the rounded head shape of a Ross's Goose. In Ross's Goose accounts in vetted scientific study reports, in Abundantly Illustrafield handbooks and guides, All Is having to be revamped to Accommodate Immutably held rare record reports.
Audubon's Infallible hirsute brush sketches of the incredible Bird of Washington now might be proven to not have been a fabrication for fame and fortune, rather the earliest use of a disguised stylus Accurately Interpreting how AIh would soon generate new life forms. Rare bird Accounts Imbued hysterically can now be recognized as following the Audubon Effect -- what's seen as a misleading broad brush will now be Automatically Included, here and now, in "Confirmed" eBird results. The Asterisk Inclusion hallmark that was soon to accompany ALL sightings by every lister who had ever had, even one of, his or her sightings "Confirmed" based somewhat on the lister's perceived worthy reputation (rather than plausible, crediby reported evidence), is now seen As Instantly hammered.
David Sibley has Acknowledged, Irritatedly, having relied too much on museum specimens and observing Ross's Geese breeding colonies in person, Affecting Impressions he'd held as reasonably obtained. The skin of many a suspect reporter's reputation is what's got saved here. Sibley's Accompanying Illustrations have shown this distinct bill shape, and he'd Assumed, Incorrectly, helped bird watchers who strive for enjoyment and accuracy. All Is hogwash. Reprints using new Aura Infused histograms will be released soon.
Now that we've fabricated answers to our ultimate questioning, Researchers are realizing they need to learn what the ultimate question is, or questions are, e.g. tackling the true meaning of the initials A and I. So far, many have locked-in that "A" is an abbreviation for "artificial". Some are doubting whether the "I" is an abbreviation, arguing that it instead seems to pair best with "artificial" when understood to be the first-person singular nominative personal pronoun.
Addendae, Incidentals, hearsay: Sibley has Also Implied having more corrections lined up -- acknowledging that in areas where they're rare, pure Yellow-shafted Northern Flickers can best have their identification nailed correctly by glimpses of them in flight, during which it's not possible to observe all the pure field marks previously deemed necessary to distinguish them from the much more common and easy to overlook intergrade flicker. He Acknowledges Including his illustrations of subtle plumage characteristics doesn't, in itself, prove any particular sighting, of a flicker that didn't see all the necessary bits, to be uncertain. The fit of a species in blank in a year needs list is an aspect of causation's Accurately Inverted hole theory, not just stringing us along. Confirming observations of a single individual flicker, with one photo showing its intergrade plumage and one photo not showing its intergrade plumage All Instantly have been justified as being of two different individuals -- species-time continuum warping, just-in-time Evolution Makes Checklist Confirmations, a.k.a. E M C squared. [A.k.a. is an abbreviation for Also Know As, sorry for my ATA -- acronym tardiness again.]
This fresh release of info coincides with the upcoming launch of a new AIh company -- paralleling similar releases immediately preceding the taking flight of many a bird.
Well, that's about 'Ten pounds of sightings in a five pound bag.' Blivet birding won, oh one.
Merry Merlin Day! [MMD!], Kevin Lucas Yakima County, Washington (State of, not Bird of)
Date: 4/1/26 5:29 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] The Point of Sticking: “Why Do Nuthatches Coat Their Nest Entrances With Sap? “| Living Bird | All About Birds
Date: 3/31/26 1:45 pm From: Sharon Howard via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Mourning Dove visit
Hello All:
We have had a Mourning Dove in the back yard the past two days. It pecked at dropped seeds under a bird feeder on the patio. At first I didn’t know what it was. It just looked like a large grayish pigeon-like bird, but when it took flight I saw the tail is the distinctive heart shaped with black and white. We have never seen one here before, although we did have a band-tailed pigeon in the front yard last October for the first time. After seeing the Mourning Dove today I did a bit of research about them on-line at All About Birds and other sites. I learned that some people interpret them as bringing a message of peace, love and comfort. We could all use more of that. Happily today we also had a Northern Flicker visit and eat from a different feeder. Those two together with all the other usual winged suspects made for a good backyard birding day.
Sharon Howard
Lower Sunset Hill
Ballard _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/31/26 5:26 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Poorwill have returned to Yakima Canyon: March 30
Tweeters, I Recorded three C Poorwill last night, March 30- high in the hills in the lower part of Yakima Canyon. Beginning at 8:15 PM. So nice to hear them again! At one point I heard all three. Two on one side of canyon, one on the other. They were active- moving around in the hills and may have just arrived. I looked and listened, but did not find them in other parts of the canyon, Including locations I usually find them later in the Spring. I saw zero moths and one stonefly-that somehow found its way into my car. It was 27 degrees with 0-5mph winds Time for torpor, little guys! Dan Reiff . Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/28/26 8:27 am From: Cara Borre via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Westport Seabirds Trip Report March 22, 2026
Westport Seabirds had an outstanding start to our 50th season on Sunday,
March 22.
As many of you know, Phil and Chris Anderson, who carried us aboard the
Monte Carlo for 50 years of exceptional sea birding in the Pacific
Northwest, have sold the boat and are passing the business along to
Westport native Todd Sawin and his wife Ann. Todd has been affiliated with
charter fishing in Westport most of his life. He acquired his boat the
Blitz a few years ago and it underwent an extensive restoration in 2024.
The Blitz is uniquely equipped to provide Westport Seabirds participants
with a comfortable interior cabin and roomy exterior observation decks. We
welcome Todd and family (his sons or father will crew our trips) to the
Westport Seabirds family, and look forward to sharing many great adventures
for years to come.
While we open this new chapter, we can’t help but reflect on the five
decades of memories made possible by Phil and Chris. The birding and
scientific community is beholden to the Andersons for making Westport
Seabirds what it is today, the longest running pelagic operator in the
North Pacific with 50 years of invaluable seabird and ocean related data.
They built a seagoing experience with a strong foundation in personal
service. From booking your reservation, to Chris’ well-timed ginger snap
offerings, to encouraging spotters to understand your goals and to help you
achieve them.
They provided the logistics for Westport Seabirds, but more importantly,
they made each journey a unique and lasting memory. We wish the Andersons
well in retirement and hope to “sea them out there” occasionally.
Unfortunately, we also have difficult news to share. Scott Mills, a leader
on our trips for 25 years, our friend and mentor, passed away earlier this
year. Scott had enduring enthusiasm for birding and a deep commitment to
teaching others about the natural history of birds and marine wildlife.
Whether it was the identification nuisances between Short-tailed and Sooty
Shearwater, which ecotype of orca we encountered, or where Buller's
Shearwater or Laysan Albatross breed, Scott was often the one who shared
that knowledge.
He was truly one of a kind and will be deeply missed. We hope you will
join us in remembering Scott as we honor him by continuing to share his
passion for education and discovery as we explore the world beyond our
shores.
Please find a detailed eBird trip report with photos and a narrative
written by leader Bill Tweit below. We encourage participants to upload
photos to their checklists so those images are available to all in
perpetuity. I have copied Bill’s narrative and included it here as well.
This was the first Westport Seabirds pelagic trip in several decades that
was not on the F/V Monte Carlo. Since the Monte Carlo was sold over the
winter, and moved to another port, Westport Seabirds has engaged a new
vessel and skipper. Todd Sawin is the captain of the F/V Blitz, assisted by
Phil Anderson. Observers were Bill Tweit, Ryan Merrill and Cara Borre, also
assisted by Phil.
For weather reasons and ocean conditions, this trip was moved from Saturday
21 Mar to the 22nd. Fortunately most of the participants who were
registered for Saturday were able to go on Sunday. We left the dock at 0605
in the dark, and encountered the worst weather and ocean of the day as we
headed out the Grays Harbor channel and over the bar, which was quite rough
and slow-going in the rain. Once we reached the outermost buoy at 0710,
there was enough daylight to begin birding and enjoying a relatively calm
ocean, and we had left the rain behind. Our route was determined in part by
our desire to have the afternoon wind at our backs on the way in. We headed
SW towards Willapa Canyon, reaching the heart of the canyon in 2.5 hours.
On the way to the canyon, we encountered a feeding aggregation of Pacific
White-sided Dolphins that had brought in hundreds of kittiwakes, a couple
hundred Sooty Shearwaters, five early Pink-footed Shearwaters and a
surprising number of Pomarine Jaegers in a wide mix of plumages. We also
encountered many large rafts of Vellela, some live and some closer into
shore appeared to be dead. Large numbers are currently washing up on
beaches. This iNaturalist article covers much of what is known about them (
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59698-Velella-velella).
Our chum stop over the canyon did not bring in a lot of birds, so we
decided to head north in the deep water (over 2000' or 350 fathoms) which
were relatively bird less. Once we turned east and were back over the
shelf, bird abundance and diversity picked up. Our route took us past a
boat fishing for hagfish or slime eels (
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/100268-Eptatretus-stoutii); it was
attended by several albatross including an immature Short-tailed Albatross.
Further east, we encountered a couple of small flocks of Parakeet Auklets
and Ancient Murrelets and then found a large flock of shearwaters on the
water including at least one Manx. Also found a group of four Humpback
Whales that offered a few good looks. From there we headed to Grays Harbor,
where we found more feeding flocks off of the south jetty and in the mouth
of the channel.
Date: 3/27/26 5:52 pm From: Joshua Hayes via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] First Wilson's of the year
I heard a singing Wilson's warbler today when I stepped out into the sunshine outside Redmond HS. In March! Have they been singing all over or is this pretty early?
Date: 3/26/26 5:37 pm From: Douglas Santoni via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS (Washington Ornithological Society) Annual Conference!
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is holding its 2026 annual conference May 14-17, 2026 in Lewiston, Idaho. If you’re not already a member of WOS, please consider joining by visiting https://wos.org/membership/. The conference is open to all, but a lower rate is available for members!
Hotel rooms can be booked at a special conference rate in this gorgeous area, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River! Registration for the conference opens April 4, 2026. Half- and full-day field trips are expected to be available in three states (WA, OR, ID).
Date: 3/26/26 2:48 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-03-26
Tweets - The weather was MUCH better this Thursday than last, with temps in the 40's and partly cloudy skies. The birds sometimes seemed too busy to be showing themselves to us, but we managed to find quite a few, including some notable species.
Highlights: Common Goldeneye - A couple in the slough, but a very distant duck flock turned out to be 21 COGO Great Blue Heron - Some appeared to be sitting on the nest, as if on eggs American Barn Owl - Sightings have been scarce this year, but this morning there was at least one seen Five Woodpecker Day - With looks at all of our regular species Hutton's Vireo - Near the windmill Northern Rough-winged Swallow - A late scan of the lake turned up one. 3rd earliest date ever for this species. First of Year (FOY) MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD - We had a flyover flock of 5, but later one male was reported in the East Meadow. (FOY), and first since 2024 American Goldfinch - South end of the East Meadow. (FOY) for the survey Savannah Sparrow - A few, including at least one singing. (FOY) for the survey Orange-crowned Warbler - Two bright birds, one singing. (FOY) for the survey
Other notable birds seen at Marymoor in the last few days include OSPREY (3/25), SAY'S PHOEBE (3/24 and 3/25), and LINCOLN'S SPARROW (3/24). None of these were seen today, and none have shown up on our 2026 surveys.
Misses today include Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Red-tailed Hawk (though I believe I glimpsed one), Northern Shrike, and Pine Siskin.
For today, 60 species, with FIVE new for the year, bringing us to 84 species for the survey this year.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 3/26/26 2:43 pm From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Pacific County Birding - March trip
Hey Tweets!
I made a run down to Pacific County Sun-Tuesday, adding a baker's-dozen birds to the year list for the county. 129 species with migration about to land. Most of the new birds were your basic early spring arrivals: Rufous Hummingbirds, Band-tailed Pigeons, Violet-Green Swallows, and Turkey Vultures were nearly everywhere. Western Bluebird was probably the best find - missed them at Lynn Point Road, where they have been reported all spring, but I ended up following up on a report from the Riekkola Unit of Willapa Bay NWR, and found one there. And shovelers! So many ducks appear to shun the salty water down in Pacific County, so coming across three Northern Shovelers was a happy moment indeed.
Lots of mammals on the trip - by the end, this included deer, river otter, beaver, elk, harbor porpoise, harbor seals, Douglas and Eastern Gray Squirrel, Townsend's Chipmunk, and a racoon, traipsing around in the mud of Willapa Bay at low tide. I also got a chance to watch surfers taking advantage of waves at Washaway Beach - a spot that... used to be (??) the fastest eroding point on the West Coast? Got into a discussion about this with one of the long-time surfers, and found some hopeful stories about recovery there as I researched it.
Date: 3/26/26 11:42 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 3/25/2026 with update on 3/18
Dear Tweets,
Approximately 25-30 of us endured a wild first Wednesday Walk of spring,
experiencing sun, clouds, rain, wind, and sleet. Temperatures ranged from
the 40s to the 50s; some moments felt like a warm spring day, while others
felt like a cold, rainy winter day. There was a High 12'3" Tide at 10:08am
so we proceeded with our regular route. Highlights included two early
First of Year COMMON YELLOWTHROAT WARBLER one at the west entrance to the
Twin Barns Loop Trail and the other on the Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike
just north of the Twin Barns. Birding was excellent at the Green Closure
Gate for the old McAllister Creek Access Road where the flooded fields on
either side offered great views of EURASIAN WIGEON, AMERICAN X EURASIAN
WIGEON hybrid, WILSON'S SNIPE and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. A RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRD nest was located by a photographer on the inside of the west
side Twin Barns Loop Trail half way between the Twin Barns cut-off and the
twin bench overlook south in a diagonal fork just above eye level;
continuing WHITE-THROATED SPARROW with a large flock of GOLDEN-CROWNED
SPARROW in the Twin Barns picnic area and a yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER
in the surge plain. Many observers had brief views of the AMERICAN BITTERN
in the freshwater marsh. The Orchard was really nice for ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER, BAND-TAILED PIGEON and Rufous Hummingbird with quick views of
HUTTON'S VIREO and FOY HERMIT THRUSH. Dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers
were present, including both the Audubon's and Myrtle varieties. At noon,
the wind and rain picked up and much of the group peeled off. At the end
of our walk we spotted FOY WOOD DUCK at the Visitor Center Pond Overlook.
For the day we observed 79 species. With the FOY Hermit Thrush, Common
Yellowthroat, and Wood Duck we have observed 104 species for the year. See
our eBird Report pasted below, which includes additional details and
embedded photos.
Last week, we spotted a FOY Band-tailed Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove and
Sora - heard only. We saw many more Violet-green Swallows 3/18, and many
more Tree Swallows 3/25. We had great views of River Otter at the Twin
Barns Overlook and upwards of 45 Trumpeter Swans flying over the Refuge.
We have several birders taking really nice photos to embed in our eBird
Reports which makes them enjoyable to review. Thanks to everyone who
contributes to the Wednesday Walk.
I'll be away birding in India - Northwest [Desert National Park/Tal Chhapar
Sanctuary] and Northeast [Sela Pass/Dirang/Eaglenest WLS/Kaziranga
NP/Dibang Valley] for the next three weeks and will return on April 29th.
In my absence Ken Brown, Rob Chrisler, Pete Kilburn, Jim Pruske, Ed Beck,
Lisa Genuit, Dan Paul, Jon Anderson and a host of regulars will continue.
I'm certain I'll miss tons of cool stuff at Nisqually while searching for
the Great Indian Bustard and Bugun Liocichla.
Happy birding until next week when the group meets again at 8am at the
Visitor Center Pond Overlook.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Mar 25, 2026 7:30 AM - 4:09 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.219 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Sun, clouds, rain and wind with
temperature in the 40’s to 50’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 12’3” Tide at
10:08am. Others seen Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Douglas Squirrel, River
Otter, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Harbor Seal, Columbian Black-tailed Deer,
Red-legged Frog egg cluster, and Northwest Salamander egg cluster.
79 species (+10 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 300
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 50
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 30
Wood Duck 2 Visitor Center Pond in the afternoon.
Northern Shoveler 250
Gadwall 40
Eurasian Wigeon 4 Flooded fields on either side of the old McAllister
Creek Access Road and south of Twin Barns.
American Wigeon 750
Eurasian x American Wigeon (hybrid) 1 In flooded field west of west
side parking lot.
Mallard 143
Northern Pintail 50
Green-winged Teal (American) 500
Ring-necked Duck 7 Visitor Center Pond.
Surf Scoter 40
Bufflehead 100
Common Goldeneye 30
Hooded Merganser 10
Common Merganser 9
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 16
Band-tailed Pigeon (Northern) 1
Mourning Dove 3
Anna's Hummingbird 2
Rufous Hummingbird 5 Nest observed on west side of Twin Barns Loop
Trail.
Virginia Rail 1 Heard along the west side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail.
American Coot (Red-shielded) 100
Killdeer 2
Long-billed Dowitcher 20 Flooded field south of the Twin Barns.
Wilson's Snipe 7 Flooded field south of the old McAllister Creek
Access Road and Twin Barns Observation Platform.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West Bank of McAllister Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs 40
Dunlin 2
Least Sandpiper 25
Short-billed Gull 250
Ring-billed Gull 40
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 15
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Horned Grebe 6
Common Loon 1 Nisqually Reach.
Brandt's Cormorant 3
Double-crested Cormorant 10
American Bittern 1 Seen in fresh water marsh.
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 20
Turkey Vulture 1 Spotted by Laurie and Steve circling over the Visitor
Center.
Northern Harrier 2
Bald Eagle 25 Occupied nest in large cottonwood west bank of Nisqually
River and Douglas Fir West Bank of McAllister Creek south of McAllister
Creek observation platform.
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Twin Barns picnic area
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 2
Northern Flicker 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1 Previously reported. Photos.
Female observed at 75 feet with bins and scope. Brown face, red nape and
yellow shafts. Seen in surge plain.
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted x Red-shafted) 1
American Kestrel 1
Hutton's Vireo (Pacific) 2 Orchard and Access Roads.
American Crow 25
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 15
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 100
Violet-green Swallow 20
Barn Swallow (American) 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20
Golden-crowned Kinglet 5
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 3
Marsh Wren 15
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 8
European Starling 100
Hermit Thrush 1 Behind Education Center.
American Robin (migratorius Group) 60
Purple Finch (Western) 3
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 10
Golden-crowned Sparrow 40
White-throated Sparrow 1 Twin Barns Picnic Area.
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 32
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 6
Western Meadowlark 1 Surge plain.
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 75
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1 Orchard.
Common Yellowthroat 2 Early arrival! Two birds seen. One around the
west entrance to the Twin Barns Loop Trail, the second off the dike or
Nisqually Estuary Trail north of the Twin Barns.
Yellow-rumped Warbler 34
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 6
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 40
Date: 3/25/26 12:52 pm From: Darcy Barry via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Pangolin wildlife tour in Botswana
That’s great to hear, John!
I’m going on a Pangolin photo safari in Botswana in September 2026.
> On Mar 25, 2026, at 12:34, john dantoni via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Jim,
> The wife and I did a tour with them in October of 2024 and were very, very satisfied with our adventure. We stayed on the houseboat on the Chobe for a few days and at the hotel for a few days. I would do it again in a second especially in March. You can see some of my pics on Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/131774887@N06/54149592223/in/datetaken-public/ . Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
> Best regards,
> John Dantoni
> Malaga WA
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/25/26 12:46 pm From: john dantoni via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Pangolin wildlife tour in Botswana
Hi Jim,The wife and I did a tour with them in October of 2024 and were very, very satisfied with our adventure. We stayed on the houseboat on the Chobe for a few days and at the hotel for a few days. I would do it again in a second especially in March. You can see some of my pics on Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/131774887@N06/54149592223/in/datetaken-public/ . Please let me know if you have any additional questions.Best regards,John DantoniMalaga WA
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/25/26 7:10 am From: Philomena O'Neill via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Prairie Chicken Lek
I am in Kearney also Steven, thanks for the info.
Philomena
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 25, 2026, at 7:27 AM, STEVEN harper via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Jeff
>
> There is a Prairie chicken lek on U road just south of Kearney. Look it up on eBird. There are about 25 birds. Iam there now. Steven
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/25/26 5:38 am From: STEVEN harper via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Prairie Chicken Lek
Jeff
There is a Prairie chicken lek on U road just south of Kearney. Look it up on eBird. There are about 25 birds. Iam there now. Steven _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/24/26 7:09 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: POPULAR SCIENCE: What happened to this iconic bird of American horror?
Tweeters,
I found this to be an interesting article on several levels of thought.
If you can't open this article by the apple news link, copy and paste into
Google:
*What happened to this iconic bird of American horror?*
*With any article I or others send, if you can't open the link, copy the
title, then do a search with your browser, like Google. This will almost
always result in you being able to find the article.*
*Best regards,*
*Dan Reiff*
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...>
Date: Tue, Mar 24, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Subject: POPULAR SCIENCE: What happened to this iconic bird of American
horror?
To: Dan Reiff <Dan.Owl.Reiff...>
*What happened to this iconic bird of American horror?*
What happened to this iconic bird of American horror? The whip-poor-will
has been an omen of death for centuries. An illustration, drawn and
engraved, of an eastern whip-poor-will, by Richard Polydore Nodder. This
article was originally featured on The Conversation. In one of the most
haunting scenes of Stephen King’s 1975 novel “Salem’s Lot,” a gravedigger
named Mike Ryerson races to bury the coffin of a local boy named Danny
Glick. As night approaches, a troubling thought overtakes Mike: Danny
Date: 3/24/26 6:54 pm From: Benjamin Menzies via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Prairie chicken lek tour ?
I may not have the gist of the question, but as a former Prairie Chicken Research Mule in ND and MN (ages ago) I'll try to help:
1.) If the question is at what cost is it worth it to put a Prairie Chicken Antics tour on your schedule vs going to your grave without seeing them, I would say probably whatever that tour costs. It's great to watch, and will leave you performing prairie chicken dance moves every time you talk about it--which people in your life will enjoy, so think of it as a gift that keeps on giving.
2.) Between a paid tour and just going on your own, the definite benefits of the tour are: it likely takes the guesswork out of whether or not you'll see prairie chickens, you can easily plug it into your schedule, you will befriend new bird geeks on the Bird Bus, it will save time otherwise spent researching places to go, and (ideally) the Tour Package includes a muffin in a plastic wrapper and unlimited styrofoam cups of gas station grade coffee.
3.) On the other hand, it probably isn't hard to find information about where to go, and just go there. The birds use the same spots year over year, so I would think the nearest wildlife refuge, USFW, or maybe even the USFS (manages some grasslands, too) office to where you'll be would be the best place to ask, followed by the local Audubon club and Nature Conservancy branch. You could scope out prospective spots the evening before (there may be a few chickens loitering on various grounds during daytime and evening Off-hours), and then go early in the AM.
The best approach, IMO, is dress super warm, bring a big thermos, snack, and something waterproof to sit or lie on, get there well before sunrise when it's still dark, get comfortable, and watch the show from then until it's fully daytime and the Unselected males get depressed and go back home to type angry comments under local news articles.
Depending on how close you are, it's important to not stick out or get up and scare them off mid-ritual. In my job that meant crawling in, being in the same spot for 3+ hours, and often crawling back out again. But: the whole spectacle, and experience never got old.
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 12:00 PM
To: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: Tweeters Digest, Vol 259, Issue 20
Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to
<tweeters...>
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026 20:57:31 -0700
From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...>
To: via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Pangolin Wildlife Photography Tours ...
Message-ID: <9c1a327c-d1ec-4776-a380-f8659517d3f2...>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
? ?... in Africa.? Does anyone on this list have any experience with
this tour operator?
? ? ? ?We are thinking of going with them in March of next year?
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:22:43 -0700
From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...>
To: via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Swans and Snows ...
Message-ID: <2e6bbafc-7aee-4dd4-af30-9d6a242d9644...>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
? ... in Skagit ...
? Numbers dropping FAST.? Went on a survey trip today thru the Skagit,
Samish, and Butler Flats.
Very few swans anywhere - including the large flocks (both now depleted)
at Sterling Road and
Pulver and Sam Bell.? Only one flock of snows - out along La
Conner-Whitney Road ... very
agitated and large groups getting up and moving ... without any
noticeable irritant (such as an
eagle).? Duck counts for all species except Mallards also down from just
a few days ago.? Even
though we stayed at the East 90 for over a half hour we didn't see a
SEOW and just 2 harriers
(one grey ghost, one female, not together).? Two RTH, no other raptors
(including Kestrels).
? - they'll all be gone soon, very soon ... Jim in Skagit
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:17:08 -0700
From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
To: <jimbetz...>
Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Swans and Snows ...
Message-ID: <38033BE6-6512-48A6-AC74-05FEFAF7B993...>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
On 15 March, when we saw all the swans and ducks on Sam Bell Road, the big shock of the day was driving by the East 90 and seeing not a single car parked there. We thought, ?yep, the owls must be gone.?
Date: 3/24/26 5:09 pm From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The arrival of spring
Yeah, they're always the first to show up and the first to leave. Even the
juveniles move on by mid August.
Louise Rutter
Kirkland
On Mon, Mar 23, 2026 at 2:10 PM PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA <plkoyama...>
wrote:
> Rufous Hummingbirds are one of the early arrivals--March. But lucky
> you--we hardly ever get them back here, and mostly it's a couple chasing
> each other so fast that you can't get binoculars on them. I'm jealous!!
> Penny
>
> On 03/21/2026 11:17 AM PDT Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> wrote:
>
>
> First day of spring, first rufous hummingbird at my feeder, a female.
> Better times are coming!
>
> Louise Rutter
> Kirkland
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Having been to the Platte River during migration, I do recommend a scope. Even in the blinds the birds are not necessarily close and as Martha points out, you will miss out on a lot. Also, Nebraska is the only state in that flyway where the cranes are not hunted. They are very skittish.
Nancy Crowell
La Conner
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 4:03:21 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Sandhill crane viewing
Just binoculars for viewing the bigger birds? Yes, it is doable.
I was just at the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival. Yes, binos do well for seeing the cranes closer in. That said, I was captivated when viewing them through a spotting scope, especially when they were in the air, circling, circling....and more.
Without the scope, they were just small birds in the sky (albeit large groups).
On Sunday I was so grateful for my scope: we watched several groups of cranes flying off some fields and begin flying in large circles in the sky, then tighter circles, and tighter circles and then fly north as they continued to ride the thermals higher. My scope was able to let me be a part of that great event, listening to their diminishing calls as well as the cranes becoming small specks in the sky even with more powerful optics.
While at viewing area Marsh 1 on Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, about 150 cranes came in to the wetlands. Watching some go down to the water and maneuver themselves to take a drink was really special. There were several people there with five different types of spotting scopes (brands and power and optic configuration differences). That was great to see which scopes were working best for me and perhaps different for others. Thanks to all who shared their optics.
Date: 3/24/26 4:13 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Sandhill crane viewing
Just binoculars for viewing the bigger birds? Yes, it is doable. I was just at the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival. Yes, binos do well for seeing the cranes closer in. That said, I was captivated when viewing them through a spotting scope, especially when they were in the air, circling, circling....and more. Without the scope, they were just small birds in the sky (albeit large groups). On Sunday I was so grateful for my scope: we watched several groups of cranes flying off some fields and begin flying in large circles in the sky, then tighter circles, and tighter circles and then fly north as they continued to ride the thermals higher. My scope was able to let me be a part of that great event, listening to their diminishing calls as well as the cranes becoming small specks in the sky even with more powerful optics. While at viewing area Marsh 1 on Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, about 150 cranes came in to the wetlands. Watching some go down to the water and maneuver themselves to take a drink was really special. There were several people there with five different types of spotting scopes (brands and power and optic configuration differences). That was great to see which scopes were working best for me and perhaps different for others. Thanks to all who shared their optics.
Date: 3/24/26 2:52 pm From: jgretten via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Request for information- Zanzibar bird guides
My wife and I will be on Zanzibar for a few days in October. If anyone has a recommendation for a local birding guide, I would appreciate it.John Grettenberger Olympia, WASent from my Galaxy_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/24/26 2:36 pm From: John Riegsecker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hybridization in Goldeneyes or Who's Your Daddy
All,
When two species hybridize the species of the male (or female) can be important, for example the difference between a mule and a hinny. I'm curious how much of a difference this makes in birds. Apparently Barrow's Goldeneyes (BAGO) are more aggressive than Common Goldeneyes (COGO), so perhaps the male in the hybrid is more likely to be a Barrow's, but otherwise I would expect either species could be the male. Still, some traits are inherited only from the hen, so the species of the female might result in slightly different looking birds.
For the last three years I have been watching a COGO x BAGO hybrid in Sinclair Inlet along the Port Orchard waterfront. It pretty much follows the description in Sibley with a purple sheen to its head. Three weeks ago I discovered a second hybrid with some interesting differences. You can see the two birds here:
Head. The most obvious differences are in the white cheek patch and the color of their head. It's not just the light -- I have seen the first bird at least 50 times and it always has that purple sheen, in sunshine and in cloudy weather. I have only seen the second bird three times, but its head is always green. Not sure I can tell a lot of difference in head shape and bill.
Flank. The first bird shows more of a BAGO like spur than the second bird.
Wings. The second bird (see flight photo) shows a more COGO-like white wing patch, whereas the first bird has a more BAGO-like white wing patch with a black line running through the middle.
Date: 3/24/26 7:27 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Swans and Snows ...
On 15 March, when we saw all the swans and ducks on Sam Bell Road, the big shock of the day was driving by the East 90 and seeing not a single car parked there. We thought, “yep, the owls must be gone.”
Dennis in rainy Seatle
> On Mar 23, 2026, at 10:22 PM, Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> ... in Skagit ...
>
> Numbers dropping FAST. Went on a survey trip today thru the Skagit, Samish, and Butler Flats.
> Very few swans anywhere - including the large flocks (both now depleted) at Sterling Road and
> Pulver and Sam Bell. Only one flock of snows - out along La Conner-Whitney Road ... very
> agitated and large groups getting up and moving ... without any noticeable irritant (such as an
> eagle). Duck counts for all species except Mallards also down from just a few days ago. Even
> though we stayed at the East 90 for over a half hour we didn't see a SEOW and just 2 harriers
> (one grey ghost, one female, not together). Two RTH, no other raptors (including Kestrels).
>
> - they'll all be gone soon, very soon ... Jim in Skagit
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/23/26 10:32 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Swans and Snows ...
... in Skagit ...
Numbers dropping FAST. Went on a survey trip today thru the Skagit,
Samish, and Butler Flats.
Very few swans anywhere - including the large flocks (both now depleted)
at Sterling Road and
Pulver and Sam Bell. Only one flock of snows - out along La
Conner-Whitney Road ... very
agitated and large groups getting up and moving ... without any
noticeable irritant (such as an
eagle). Duck counts for all species except Mallards also down from just
a few days ago. Even
though we stayed at the East 90 for over a half hour we didn't see a
SEOW and just 2 harriers
(one grey ghost, one female, not together). Two RTH, no other raptors
(including Kestrels).
Date: 3/23/26 9:07 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Pangolin Wildlife Photography Tours ...
... in Africa. Does anyone on this list have any experience with
this tour operator?
We are thinking of going with them in March of next year?
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/23/26 11:56 am From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Say's Phoebes
Tweets - it's a good day for King County Say's Phoebes. On at the Bar-S playground fields at Alki, Seattle, then one at the model airplane field at Marymoor Park, Redmond, and continuing reports from UBNA near the Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle. Not sure if the Discovery Park Say's continues today, but I wouldn't be surprised.
Date: 3/22/26 8:59 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Monthly Meeting, April 6, 2026 (on-line only)
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, April 6, 2026, Brian Zinke will present, "Lights Out for Birds: How Reducing Nighttime Light Saves Migratory Species." Each year, millions of birds migrate across our region under the cover of darkness. But increasing levels of artificial light at night are disorienting and draw birds into cities where they face fatal collisions with buildings, windows, and other structures. Brian Zinke will explain why birds are vulnerable to nighttime light, and introduce the Lights Out initiative, a growing effort to reduce light pollution during peak bird migration. Learn about successful Lights Out programs, and practical steps we can take here in western Washington to help our birds navigate the night skies safely.
Brian studied Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology in Kansas before he worked for Fish and Wildlife in Wyoming and in Washington. He has served in leadership roles in several wildlife nonprofits. Since November2019, Brian has been executive director of Pilchuck Audubon.
This meeting will be conducted virtually, via Zoom (no in-person attendance). Sign-in will begin at 7:15 pm, and the meeting commences at 7:30 pm. Please go to the WOS Monthly Meetings page: https://wos.org/monthly-meetings/ for instructions on participation and to get the Zoom link.
When joining the meeting, we ask that you mute your device and make certain that your camera is turned off.
This meeting is open to all as WOS invites everyone in the wider birding community to attend. Thanks to the generosity of our presenters, recordings of past programs are available at the following link to the WOS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@washingtonornithologicalso7839/videos
If you are not yet a member of WOS, we hope you will consider becoming one at https://wos.org
Date: 3/21/26 6:37 pm From: Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Scope for Sandhill Cranes
We went to se the cranes near Kearney last spring. I didn’t take a scope and don’t think it is necessary.
It is an amazing site and doable with binoculars.
Date: 3/21/26 5:42 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Angel's cam is back
Beautiful! What an intriguing looking bird.
It makes me wonder what attributes a male Red Tailed Hawk uses to recognize her. Must not be coloring or shading.
Tom Benedict
Seahurst, wA
> On Mar 21, 2026, at 10:53, Diann MacRae via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hi, Tweets - if anyone has watched Angel's cam in the past, she (a gorgeous leucistic red-tailed hawk and her mate, Tom (plain redtail colors) are back after a two-year hiatus from their nest in Tennessee. The cam is on private property, is hosted by Window to Wildlife and was quite intesting two years ago as they raised one chick. Just go to Windows to Wildlife and click on Angel's cam. I think you'll enjoy it - all is just starting there, but lots will happen.
>
> Cheers, Diann
>
> Diann MacRae
> Olympic Vulture Study
> 22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E.
> Bothell, WA 98021
> <tvulture...>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/21/26 1:50 pm From: AMK17 via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The arrival of spring
Crows are busy nest building and chickadees paired up and possibly nesting already in nest box.
Spring is awesome!
AKopitov Seattle
AMK17 -----Original Message----- From: Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> Sent: Mar 21, 2026 11:18 AM To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>rows are busy nest building Subject: [Tweeters] The arrival of spring
First day of spring, first rufous hummingbird at my feeder, a female. Better times are coming!
Date: 3/21/26 12:10 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The arrival of spring
On Mar 21, 2026 at 11:17:22, Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...>
wrote:
> First day of spring, first rufous hummingbird at my feeder, a female.
> Better times are coming!
>
Our Rufous showed 3 days ago and we’ve seen one (probably the same) daily
since. The Anna’s are not amused. We had mourning doves arrive about a week
ago (they went downhill for winter), and earlier this week I went out and
heard a Pacific Wren bellowing quite enthusiastically, and a couple of
Robins sharing the front lawn while hunting — and Robins out in the wood
singing. Also, the peeper frogs woke up and started peeping all around us.
The Towhees and Juncos are all brightening up and putting on their Sunday
finest, and I’m starting to see the Nuthatches visiting the feeders in
pairs again. And it’s clear the Fox Sparrows are long gone until next fall.
I saw Varied Thrushes a couple of days ago so they haven’t left for upslope
yet, but any time now.
The Stellar’s Jays are, well, about as usual. Loud and fun.
Still too early for any of the summer birds to arrive — we normally get
Western Tanager, B-H Grosbeaks, Western Flycatcher and Swainson’s Thrush on
the property (and we’ve confirmed two of those breeding, assume the others
are), but the transition is definitely happening.
I think (but it’s hard to tell) that our winter Juncos have left and we’re
seeing the summer Juncos arriving; there’s a week or so where feeder
activity drops as one group heads out and then the other group arrives, and
seed usage is back to normal again… When I checked about ten days ago there
wasn’t much action at the Seabeck eagle hangout, but we have good tides
this week and I’ll check again to see if the party is going to start up.
As I’ve been out and about I haven’t seen big changes in the winter
populations, but I think some of the ducks are moving out. The Port Gamble
Harris’ Sparrow is still being seen, and I’m curious if it’s going to stick
around or not. And from recent reports, it seems the Western Meadowlark
there has a friend so they may stay and nest there this year (and I’ll keep
trying until they actually stop hiding from me).
With El Niño forming to shape the summer, I’m going to be fascinated to
watch how things change around here from last summer.
Chuq
(500’ elevation a bit above Silverdale)
---------------------------------------
Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
Date: 3/21/26 11:52 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] The arrival of spring
The Yellow-rumped Warblers in our yard are molting so fast into breeding plumage that it seems they can hardly wait.
Dennis Paulson Seattle
> On Mar 21, 2026, at 11:17 AM, Louise via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote: > > First day of spring, first rufous hummingbird at my feeder, a female. Better times are coming! > > Louise Rutter > Kirkland > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/21/26 10:42 am From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] California condors nest in the Pacific Northwest for 1st time in a century
> On Mar 21, 2026, at 08:21, Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Oohl, and a Black Vulture photo to lead it off . . .
Yeah. Curious.. Looks like Morning Overview may be an AI driven/generated collector of content. I noticed at least one other article on the MO home page whose photo did not match the content of the article.
Nevertheless, the California Condor nesting news is great to read about! This report appears to have accurate photos. It also has additional details about the birds and their cultural significance for the native Yuroks:
Date: 3/21/26 8:59 am From: HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] California condors nest in the Pacific Northwest for 1st time in a century
At least they got close.....Sort of
Hal Michael
Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/)
Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
<ucd880...>
Date: 3/21/26 8:30 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] California condors nest in the Pacific Northwest for 1st time in a century
Oohl, and a Black Vulture photo to lead it off . . .
Date: 3/21/26 8:29 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] California condors nest in the Pacific Northwest for 1st time in a century
Date: 3/20/26 9:59 pm From: Roger Moyer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Turkey Vultures
To the keeper of the TV records. They are back in decent numbers. Today I had 2 outside Scapoose, Oregon, 1 in Longview and on on I-5 around milemarker 68. Just south of Chehalis.
Regards
Date: 3/20/26 8:01 pm From: Stephen Elston via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Should I take a spotting scope to Nebraska to view the Sandhill Cranes?
Afraid I cannot make a definitive recommendation on carrying a scope.
I can recommend that while visiting western Nebraska you consider visiting
the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge. When I visited I saw
grouse,lots of waterfowl, Burrowing Owls, and lots of other fun birds. Very
helpful staff. .
Happy birding, Steve
On Fri, Mar 20, 2026 at 12:45 PM STEVEN harper via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Is it worth taking a spotting scope to Nebraska to watch the Sandhill
> Cranes and other potential birds. I will be there a few days and will be
> in the blinds and out and about. I don’t want to take the scope if it is
> not useful as it is a bit of a pain to pack up and haul flying.
>
> Steven
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/20/26 7:20 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 3-19-2026
Tweeters,
The rain kept up the whole time the nine of us toured the JBLM Eagle's Pride GC but the temperature was fairly consistent (50degF-54degF). Luckily, the falling water was mostly a light sprinkle except for a few times. The waterfowl species and numbers were fairly low, except for BUFFLEHEAD (29); with the two pairs of MALLARDS and a single pair of AMERICAN WIGEON and RING-NECKED DUCK bringing up the rear. AMERICAN ROBINS (80) put in appearances almost everywhere we went with YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (9) - all Audubon's - rounding out a good day despite the moisture.
The only mammals sighted were Columbian black-tailed deer (3) and Eastern gray squirrel (1).
The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM from March-October and 9:00AM November to February. The starting point is the Driving Range building, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. (Turn left immediately after entering the parking lot to take the road leading to the driving range building.) Upcoming walks include the following:
* March 19
* April 16
* May 21
Everyone is welcome!
From the eBirdPNW report:
30 species (+1 other taxa)
Cackling Goose 10
American Wigeon 2
Mallard 4
Ring-necked Duck 2
Bufflehead 17
Mourning Dove 5
Anna's Hummingbird 2
Northern Flicker 4
Hutton's Vireo 2
Steller's Jay 4
American Crow 4
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 15
swallow sp. 14 A flock passing high overhead.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 7
Golden-crowned Kinglet 30
Red-breasted Nuthatch 5
Brown Creeper 5
Pacific Wren 10
Bewick's Wren 4
Varied Thrush 9
American Robin 80
House Finch 10
Purple Finch 5
Dark-eyed Junco 40
Golden-crowned Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 29
Spotted Towhee 9
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 9
Date: 3/20/26 4:34 pm From: Bill Tweit via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] One space available on Sun 22 Mar Westport Seabirds pelagic
Due to having to move the Westport Seabirds pelagic this weekend from Saturday to Sunday for weather reasons, there is one space still available. If you are interested in joining us offshore on Sunday, please call Todd Sawin, the skipper at 360.810.0504.
Date: 3/20/26 2:22 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Forwarding WDFW Request for Information for at-risk species
Tweeters,
This is a bit of an old request from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. If you have information they can use, please send info to Taylor Cotten.
---
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Feb. 25, 2026
Contact: Taylor Cotten<mailto:<t.cotten...>, 360-902-2505
Media: Anour Esa<mailto:<anour.esa...>, 564-233-8339
Public invited to submit information for 11 species status reports and recovery plans
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking information from the public to inform species reports and plans the Department is developing for 11 wildlife species in Washington.
WDFW is also seeking information about northern leopard frog, Cascade red fox, Oregon vesper sparrow, and Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly to inform development of recovery plans.
WDFW is especially looking for information about the species’ demographics, current habitat conditions, threats and trends to populations, and existing conservation measures that have benefited the species.
"We are interested in hearing from members of the public, including non-governmental organizations, universities, private researchers, and naturalists, who might have relevant information about these wildlife species," said Taylor Cotten, WDFW conservation assessment section manager. "You could have valuable data, such as annual population counts or privately developed habitat management plans, that can help us better understand the conservation status and recovery opportunities of these animals in Washington."
The public may submit written comments and observations via email<mailto:<TandEpubliccom...> or by mailing Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife ATTN: Taylor Cotten, P.O. Box 43141, Olympia, WA 98504. Further public comment opportunities will be available during the development of each individual species status report.
All members of the public are invited to share their perspectives and participate in WDFW public feedback opportunities regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, language proficiency, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, or basis of disability.
Date: 3/20/26 12:55 pm From: STEVEN harper via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Should I take a spotting scope to Nebraska to view the Sandhill Cranes?
Hi All,
Is it worth taking a spotting scope to Nebraska to watch the Sandhill Cranes and other potential birds. I will be there a few days and will be in the blinds and out and about. I don’t want to take the scope if it is not useful as it is a bit of a pain to pack up and haul flying.
Date: 3/20/26 12:43 pm From: STEVEN harper via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Should I take a spotting scope to see Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska?
Hi All,
Is it worth taking a spotting scope to Nebraska to watch the Sandhill Cranes and other potential birds. I will be there a few days and will be in the blinds and out and about. I don’t want to take the scope if it is not useful as it is a bit of a pain to pack up and haul flying.
Steven
> On Mar 20, 2026, at 12:01 PM, via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to
> <tweeters...>
>
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> 1. Re: Are jays prone to skin diseases? (Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters)
> 2. Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-03-19
> (Michael Hobbs via Tweeters)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0700
> From: Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
> Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Are jays prone to skin diseases?
> Message-ID:
> <CAO8p4THmhdBBMZbqjWFBO2wx_WjXkxvQc6tBO5-+<KS2PSF0ekg...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> That seems likely to be the explanation. Photos of that condition I found
> appear similar to the Jay.
>
> Mike
>
>> On Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 7:53?AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Mike, I don?t know if this would be what you saw, but look up
>> knemidocoptiasis online.
>>
>> Dennis Paulson
>> Seattle
>>
>>> On Mar 19, 2026, at 7:46 AM, Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I just saw a Stellar's Jay that appeared to have pale and thickened skin
>> on its feet. It did not look normal. Any idea what causes this?
>>>
>>> Mike Wagenbach
>>> Seattle
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>>
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> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:43:26 -0700
> From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-03-19
> Message-ID:
> <CAPO=Bqt-=OzjW-74x+3JaohUO4JM2aJ5XRP=<ohir780VuH6KpQ...>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Tweets - It was very rainy until about 9:30 this morning, when we had a bit
> of clearing. By that time, we were all soaked and a bit discouraged. But
> there were birds to see today.
>
> Highlights:
> American Wigeon - One below the weir was first in 4 weeks
> Rufous Hummingbird - This time everyone got to see the male at the
> south end of the Dog Meadow
> Sharp-shinned Hawk - In large cottonwood a bit south of the East
> Meadow. First of Year (FOY)
> Cooper's Hawk - One in the Pea Patch
> Merlin - One flew east of the East Meadow
> Northern Shrike - One between the East Meadow and the model airplane
> field
> Tree Swallow - Many
> Violet-green Swallow - Hundreds, (FOY)
> Varied Thrush - One singing immediately south of Fields 7-8-9 in Snag
> Row
> White-throated Sparrow - FOUR TOGETHER along slough trail near the
> south end of the Dog Area
> Western Meadowlark - At least one, singing, East Meadow
>
> Misses today included Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed
> Gull, Marsh Wren, Pine Siskin, and Savannah Sparrow.
>
> For the day, we totalled 59 species. Adding SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and
> VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, the 2026 survey list is now at 79 species.
>
> = Michael Hobbs
> = <BirdMarymoor...>
> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
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> End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 259, Issue 16
> *****************************************
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Date: 3/19/26 1:50 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-03-19
Tweets - It was very rainy until about 9:30 this morning, when we had a bit of clearing. By that time, we were all soaked and a bit discouraged. But there were birds to see today.
Highlights: American Wigeon - One below the weir was first in 4 weeks Rufous Hummingbird - This time everyone got to see the male at the south end of the Dog Meadow Sharp-shinned Hawk - In large cottonwood a bit south of the East Meadow. First of Year (FOY) Cooper's Hawk - One in the Pea Patch Merlin - One flew east of the East Meadow Northern Shrike - One between the East Meadow and the model airplane field Tree Swallow - Many Violet-green Swallow - Hundreds, (FOY) Varied Thrush - One singing immediately south of Fields 7-8-9 in Snag Row White-throated Sparrow - FOUR TOGETHER along slough trail near the south end of the Dog Area Western Meadowlark - At least one, singing, East Meadow
Misses today included Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Marsh Wren, Pine Siskin, and Savannah Sparrow.
For the day, we totalled 59 species. Adding SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, the 2026 survey list is now at 79 species.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 3/19/26 1:11 pm From: Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Are jays prone to skin diseases?
That seems likely to be the explanation. Photos of that condition I found
appear similar to the Jay.
Mike
On Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 7:53 AM Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson...>
wrote:
> Mike, I don’t know if this would be what you saw, but look up
> knemidocoptiasis online.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> > On Mar 19, 2026, at 7:46 AM, Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > I just saw a Stellar's Jay that appeared to have pale and thickened skin
> on its feet. It did not look normal. Any idea what causes this?
> >
> > Mike Wagenbach
> > Seattle
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...>
> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Date: 3/19/26 11:13 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - February 2026
Hi Tweeters,
We ended February with 111 species on our Edmonds year list. The added species are:
Wilson’s Snipe (code 3), 1 at Edmonds marsh (ID photo), 2-5-26.
Lincoln’s Sparrow (code 3), 1 at the waterfront’s Brackett’s Landing North (ID photos), 2-6-26, 2-17-26, and 2-18-26.
Late entry: Ring-billed Gull (code 3) was seen and reported over the Edmonds section of Lake Ballinger, an expected location, on January 1st. I received a timely report of the gull but simply forgot to add it to our January list.
Other birds of interest: The adult male Lesser Goldfinch (code 5) returned to its customary feeder station on 2-15-26 for a brief sighting. A skein of 21 Trumpeter Swans (code 4) was seen flying along the waterfront on 2-27-26. There were multiple reports throughout the month of either 1 or 2 White-throated Sparrows (code 3) at the marsh. Interestingly, there were no yard reports of this species. One Western Meadowlark (code 3) was reported twice at the marsh.
By way of explanation, we start additions to our year list based on birders letting me know about sightings. We then review eBird reports to see if we can add further species based on information included in checklists. With rarer birds, code 3 or rarer, we look for something more than a checklist tick. Those of us who use eBird know that we occasionally make data entry errors, so those have to be ruled out for our purposes. We then look for evidence such as a description of critical field marks, photos, or recordings. If none of those is included, we then decline to add the species at this time. This has no effect on an eBirder’s personal records.
Declined: 5 Eurasian Wigeons (code 3) at Edmonds marsh, a single report in an eBird checklist that contains no American Wigeons (most likely a data entry error); several waterfront reports of multiple Canvasbacks (code 4) by the same eBirder with no documentation; 1 Ruddy Duck (code 3), Edmonds marsh, single report; Greater Yellowlegs (code 3), waterfront 2-23-26, single report; Sanderling (code 3), Edmonds marina, single report; multiple reports of American Herring Gull (code 4), Edmonds marsh and waterfront throughout the month with no details; two separate reports of Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) (code 4) with no details; California Scrub-Jay (code 3),1 at a private home with no details.
As always, I appreciate it when birders get in touch with me to share sightings, photos, or recordings. It helps us build our collective year list. If you would like a copy of our 2026 Edmonds city checklist, please request it from this email address: checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. The 2026 checklist, with February sightings on it, is in the bird information box at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station at the base of the public pier.
Good birding,
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
cariddellwa at gmail dot com
Abundance codes: (1) Common, (2) Uncommon, (3) Harder to find, usually seen annually, (4) Rare, 5+ records, (5) Fewer than 5 records
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Date: 3/19/26 9:22 am From: Ed Dominguez via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Are jays prone to skin diseases?
Last year we had a Steller’s Jay in our years that had these mites
infesting its legs. The Jay hung around for many months but the infection
looked ghastly!
Ed Dominguez
On Thu, Mar 19, 2026 at 7:53 AM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Mike, I don’t know if this would be what you saw, but look up
> knemidocoptiasis online.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
> > On Mar 19, 2026, at 7:46 AM, Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > I just saw a Stellar's Jay that appeared to have pale and thickened skin
> on its feet. It did not look normal. Any idea what causes this?
> >
> > Mike Wagenbach
> > Seattle
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...>
> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/19/26 8:02 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Are jays prone to skin diseases?
Mike, I don’t know if this would be what you saw, but look up knemidocoptiasis online.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Mar 19, 2026, at 7:46 AM, Mike Wagenbach via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I just saw a Stellar's Jay that appeared to have pale and thickened skin on its feet. It did not look normal. Any idea what causes this?
>
> Mike Wagenbach
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/17/26 4:47 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] new bird book!
Hello tweets,
I just got a copy of a new bird book, The Bird with Flaming Red Feet, by Maria Mudd Ruth. Some of you may remember her book on Marbled Murrelets (Rare Bird: Pursuing the Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet) or others she has written. This one is very enjoyable, fun to read because of her writing style and superbly educational about one of the iconic birds of the Pacific Northwest, the Pigeon Guillemot.
Date: 3/17/26 7:47 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] I believe this a big deal. This will provide a huge surge of Observation research information regarding migration: “Study reveals new technique to identify individual night-flying birds for the first time”
Date: 3/16/26 8:59 pm From: jonbirder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] The Plateau flattened
Hi again Tweets - The final chapter, I promise. This morning, I decided to get up before my roommate and make a desperate dash up towards Conconully to reinforce my growing suspicion that it's way too late in the non-winter to find Sharp-tailed Grouse in their most viewable habitats. Yup. None there in the waterbirch at Scotch Creek. (Also, no snow for about a thousand feet higher) But...my more realistic goal was to find a Canyon Wren in the rock fall along the first mile of the Riverside Cutoff - that part was easy! The rest of the day we spent looking for birds where they normally winter, but: No Swamp Sparrow at the Monse boat launch; an unsuccessful search for Saw-whet Owls in their usual (winter - duh) trees in Bridgeport SP; a look for whatever along a route through the former Leahy Sage Grouse lek, down Rd. K to Heritage road and south to the Atkins "Lake" area. Lots of Horned Larks, an occasional meadowlark, Red-tailed Hawk, one Roughy but no falcons or owls. (Also not a single vehical encountered in 20 or 30 miles of road!) We really enjoyed the spectacular views going over the top of Badger Mt. and down the southwest slope with the past weekends snowfall showing nicely in the afternoon sun. In summary: A great trip and one we're hoping to do sometime again in the winter - maybe we'll have one next year!! (Although el Nino threatens) Happy birding! - JonSent from my Galaxy_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/16/26 6:24 pm From: Stephen Elston via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Turkey Vultures at Tongue Point
Hi Tweets,
Today at about 1230 I spotted a kettle of Turkey Vultures from the Salt Creek campground west of Port Angeles. These birds were circling to the west of Tongue Point along the Straits of Juan de Fuca. I did not see any of the TUVUs heading north over the water in the time I was there.
I got a picture with my phone camera that shows 11 TUVUs. There appeared to be at least 6 more below the tree line that do not show in the photo.
Happy birding to all, Steve
-- Stephen F Elston, PhD Instructor, Data Science and AI Harvard Division of Continuing Education
I enjoyed Dennis Paulson's message about the Samish Flats on Sunday. Just fyi - the snow geese have been hanging out pretty consistently on Fir Island, including a blue morph goose. On Saturday, there was a huge flock of snow geese on Polson Road, and a smaller flock just east of LaConner.
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/16/26 1:48 pm From: Gary A Kelsberg via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] “The Impossible Thing” book recommendation
A real and (very) rare blood red guillemot egg forms the focus of this historical fiction novel by Belinda Bauer. Set among the seabird colonies on the Yorkshire cliffs alternately in the 1920’s and the present day, it tells the story of egg collectors who seek to acquire the most unusual ones, and the “climmers” who make their living robbing nests. The descriptions of birds on their nesting ledges, their uniquely patterned eggs, and the human activity is historically (and oölogically) accurate. Some of the characters are based on real people, although the story is augmented by the author.
Tweeters might focus on the bird-related details; I found the story and the protagonists compelling, one of the most enjoyable reads in years. The book was long-listed for the Booker Prize.
Gary Kelsberg
kelsberg at yew dot warshington dot ee-dew _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/16/26 11:20 am From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] JBLM Eagles Pride Golf Course Monthly Birdwalk - Thursday, March 19 - 8:00AM Start
Hi Tweeters,
The next Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) birdwalk is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, at 8:00AM.
The JBLM Eagles Pride GC birders do the tour d'course the third Thursday of every month. We meet at 8:00AM<outlook-data-detector://2> through October 2026. (Change to 9:00AM in November.)
Starting point is the Driving Range Tee, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. When you turn into the course entrance, take an immediate left onto the road to the driving range - that's where we meet.
Also, to remind folks that haven't been here before, even though Eagle's Pride is a US Army recreation facility, you don't need any ID to attend these birdwalks. Hope you're able to make it!
Current weather forecast is 55degF-60degF start to finish (RealFeel 49-58) with about a 70% chance of rain during the walk. As always, dress for success!
Date: 3/15/26 9:25 pm From: jonbirder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Confrmed - OK Co. is winter free!
Hi Tweets - Well, this was it! After a snow free day on the Timentwa Plateau yesterday, today was the day we finally get up into some of that snow we've been hearing about in the greater Havilla/Chesaw/Molson (urban?) area. The hills looked remarkably brown along both sides of 97, but surely as we ascended...Nope. Fancher Flats was totally snow free but littered with way more baby blacks (Angus) than we've ever seen before!! Seems like all of the 1000 +/- cattle on the flats had just (or were about to) give berth. This was, of course, really good news for the many ravens and magpies in attendance, as well as for at least 3 Golden and 7 Bald eagles we saw about the area. The absence of snow meant that the local Chukar population was well up on the cliff side and could be heard but not seen. From the flats, we headed up Siwash Cr. road knowing full well that no snow means no Sharp-tails. Yup. That's what it means. Also, not much else (BC Chickadees and RB Nuthatches are Edmonds yard birds). Not till well after the turn onto No. Siwash Cr. Rd. and into some pretty mature ponderosa/Engleman forest, did my repeated pygmy owl tooting generate a proper mob scene that included 3 spp. of Nuthatch, Mtn. Chickadee, and Pine Siskins: 4 nice FOY. Back out on Havilla Rd. nothing much there or up at the Sno park (1-inch base) where I heard a distant sapsucker drumming but, with my aging ears, couldn't tell which way to go to chase it down. (30 degrees and quite breezy there). The first farm above the Havilla church had its usual flock of Gray Partridge that flew off into a hidden gully as soon as we arrived, but did provide the last FOY of the day. From there on - to and through Chesaw, Bolster, and Molson, the only real excitement was a couple of flocks of siskins along MaryAnn Cr. in which I could find no redpolls. Also interesting was seeing Says Phoebe and Mtn. Bluebirds repeatedly throughout the Highlands. I guess that means (despite this funny white stuff we hear may have fallen in or near Seattle!?!) it really isn't winter any more, if it ever was. So sad. Well, we'll drive home over the Waterville Plateau tomorrow but don't have a lot of hope for great birds. Maybe a cute owl at Bridgeport SP?? Happy birding! - Jon Houghton, Edmonds Sent from my Galaxy_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/15/26 2:06 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Whoopee!
We drove up to the Samish Flats this morning to see what we could see, and our first stop was on Sam Bell Road at a gigantic flock of waterfowl, many dozens of swans (I forgot to count them) and certainly well over 5,000 ducks, mostly American Wigeons and Northern Pintails but some Mallards as well. I scanned and scanned and scanned in vain for Eurasian Wigeons but never found one, my biggest surprise of the day.
But some swans were right up at the road, and the second-closest one turned out to be the Whooper! We watched it feeding and drinking and took photo after photo of the swans and the entire flock. Then there was activity way down at the west end of the field. A cow had escaped, and someone came out in a little ATV to round it up. Even though it was three or four hundred yards away, it flushed much of the duck flock and most of the swans, including our birds that flew up and landed far out in the field. If we had arrived a half-hour later, there would have been no way to see the Whooper.
And not long afterwards, a Bald Eagle flushed most of the ducks, although not the swans. A live, healthy swan apparently has quite a bit of immunity to eagle predation.
We saw othing particularly unusual for the rest of our drive down through the flats and a hike at Wylie Slough. Couldn’t find the Black Phoebes that others had just seen, and several people were looking in vain for a Swamp Sparrow that had been there. But birds were singing, and there were Tree Swallows all over the place; spring is definitely springing. And apparently the new normal is not to see Snow Geese in that area.
Hi Tweets ,Well, rumors of winter finally arriving east of the mts were not totally accurate. Our Thursday am drive over Stevens was uneventful. It seems the TV hype of awful conditions kept the traffic down to the point where, yeh, it was snowing and slippery but with no traffic ya just keep going and all's well. No snow anywhere after Leavenworth. We went up 97 to Pateros and were amazed at how few birds there were on the Col. R?!? Also, very few birds on the backwatered Methow R. mouth?? We later decided it might be because so many smaller ponds and lakes in the area are not frozen. Only FOYs for the day were BB Magpie and Wild Turkey. Evening in outer Twisp. We woke up Friday morning to about 6 inches of fluffy white and after a real nice breakfast decided to head up through Winthrop to the Chewuck River and see how far we could get. Most birds we saw along the road quickly disappeared into snowy brush but we strongly suspected most were Juncos. Not much else to be seen (other than Robins and Ravens) until, FINALLY, on West Chewuck Rd. heading back towards Winthrop, a couple of large pines held a bunch of Cassin's Finches and Evening Grosbeaks - nice FOY! After a fine dinner(?) at one of the remarkably few restaurants in the greater Wintrop/Twisp axis, as we approached our lodge, a big owl flew up from the road side and perched in a big C-wood - a Great-horned for another FOY!This morn in Twisp was chilly, but sunny. We went down the Methow and up river to Washburn Is. where we were also amazed at the dearth of ducks (lots of coot though). In stead of hoped-for winter sparrows, we found (FOY) Violet-green Swallows and Says Phoebes. At the Monse Boat Launch, a few sparrows about but only Songs would sit up to be seen. Surely, snow, and the associated winter birds, would be up Cameron Lk. Road. Well, a little snow on the southern Timentwa Plateau but none to the north (!?!). Yeah, there were Horned Larks but no Snow Buntings and no Gray Partridge. The several ponds were unfrozen and this is where all the ducks are!! Also, about 40 Sandhill Cranes at the first big pond by the first big farmhouse. Timentwa Rd. ponds were also ducky but NO birds with the cows where historically there have been Snow Buntings, pipets, Gray Partridge etc. I guess with no snow about, they're just all happy out and about. Just north of Timentwa Rd, at the Am. Tree Sparrow place, I managed to briefly coax one up for a quick look and a nice Great Horned popped into view in some thick brush. That's it for now. Heading for the Highlands tomorrow. Maybe there's some winter up there!?! Happy Birding - Jon Houghton, Edmonds Sent from my Galaxy_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/14/26 3:18 pm From: Jim Ullrich via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Othello Sandhill Crane Festival 3/20-22
Hello fellow Tweets
Hope to see everyone at next weekends Othello Sandhill Crane festival
3/20-22 Othello WA
Swarovski, KOWA and Vortex Optiks will all be there to educate, fix if
necessary any of your optiks needs. For classes and field trips visit:
https://othellosandhillcranefestival.org
Yours for the Birds n’ the Bees
Jim Ullrich
7075 Corfu Blvd NE
Bremerton, WA 98311
Date: 3/14/26 9:56 am From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
P.S. About 2001 I photographed a banded Cook Inlet Gull (
https://ebird.org/species/x00050) at a downtown park in Portland.
S/he was hatched on the Kenai Peninsula 25 years earlier. I didn't catch
'their' name though. Bobette? Even S/he may still be around, who knows?
Bob
On Sat, Mar 14, 2026 at 9:28 AM Robert O'Brien <baro...> wrote:
> Hmmm
> Could be Bob has passed on;, but some Bobs are VERY OLD; but still
> around, You can find them anywhere.
> S/he might have been home at some point in the past..
> Check these out. They are short-form urls that you must click on twice to
> open the full site;
> All photos by Bob
> Best regards, Bob
>
> ICGU.html <http://www2.rdrop.com/users/green/icgu/ICGU.html> >
> ICGU2.html <http://www2.rdrop.com/users/green/icgu/ICGU2.html> >
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:57 PM Alan Roedell <alanroedell...>
> wrote:
>
>> Eloquent!
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 7:25 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> AreIs Bob's photos available online somewhere? Seems intriguing.
>>> Best Regards, Bob from Portland
>>> Or, preferably, send Bob down here.
>>>
>>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
>>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hey Tweets,
>>>>
>>>> Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing
>>>> to Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because
>>>> his excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in
>>>> Seattle and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68.
>>>> Bob appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and
>>>> the south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired
>>>> lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s?
>>>> Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the
>>>> debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but
>>>> Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was
>>>> the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have
>>>> eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still
>>>> limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds.
>>>> When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new
>>>> birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to
>>>> get to know each other statewide.
>>>>
>>>> It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant
>>>> to give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar
>>>> River mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled
>>>> by gull identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a
>>>> runt Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much
>>>> Jane, for sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that
>>>> of Amar. And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull
>>>> Guide.
>>>>
>>>> Good Birding,
>>>>
>>>> Carol Riddell
>>>> Edmonds, WA
>>>> cariddellwa at gmail dot com
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>>> <Tweeters...>
>>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>
>>
Date: 3/14/26 9:44 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
When we had this discussion a couple of winters ago, it was all about duck hunters dumping duck carcasses in a field there. Could that be the case?
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Mar 14, 2026, at 8:12 AM, Cynthia Simonsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Neil,
>
> I heard similar information years ago. It could also so be afterbirth from lambing or calving. This occurs in two other Samish flat farms. The Bow Cheese farm (although I haven’t seen it in a couple years) and at a farm on Allen West Rd west of the Methodist Church.
>
> Those eagles are amazing at scoping out food, kind of like the birders at the East 90:-)
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:25 PM Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
> I led a trip last Sunday near Edison, WA. We passed a field that had about 50 Bald Eagles in it. They were feeding on a carcass, maybe one or more, in the middle of the field. This field is half ways between Edison and the east 90. Right by the tiger float if you know where that is. It might have been a deer carcass that had been hit on the road and made it to the center of the field. But years ago, I was told that someone who raises sheep dumps the bodies of sheep who don’t make it through lambing. Does anyone know more about this? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of sheep in this area. I have seen quite a few eagles in this area before but I have never heard more on why the carcasses where there. Gary?
> Neil Zimmerman
> Brier, WA
> n3zims @ Comcast.net
>
> Sent from my iPad
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters> > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/14/26 9:36 am From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
Hmmm
Could be Bob has passed on;, but some Bobs are VERY OLD; but still around,
You can find them anywhere.
S/he might have been home at some point in the past..
Check these out. They are short-form urls that you must click on twice to
open the full site;
All photos by Bob
Best regards, Bob
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:57 PM Alan Roedell <alanroedell...> wrote:
> Eloquent!
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 7:25 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> AreIs Bob's photos available online somewhere? Seems intriguing.
>> Best Regards, Bob from Portland
>> Or, preferably, send Bob down here.
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>> Hey Tweets,
>>>
>>> Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing to
>>> Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because his
>>> excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in Seattle
>>> and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68. Bob
>>> appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and the
>>> south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired
>>> lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s?
>>> Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the
>>> debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but
>>> Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was
>>> the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have
>>> eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still
>>> limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds.
>>> When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new
>>> birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to
>>> get to know each other statewide.
>>>
>>> It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant to
>>> give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar River
>>> mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled by gull
>>> identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a runt
>>> Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much Jane, for
>>> sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that of Amar.
>>> And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull Guide.
>>>
>>> Good Birding,
>>>
>>> Carol Riddell
>>> Edmonds, WA
>>> cariddellwa at gmail dot com
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> <Tweeters...>
>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>
-------- Original Message -------- On Saturday, 03/14/26 at 08:47 Cynthia Simonsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
> Happy Pi Day! > > For those taking a trip up to the Samish flats… > > The daffodils are blooming! RoozenGarde Bloom map shows which fields have daffodils this year. > > Yesterday: > Chilberg Rd east of LaConner very near the farm at Chilberg Lane had two large flocks of swans. > > Sam Bell Rd east of Hwy 11, Chuckanut Drive, still had 1000’s of trumpeter swans, wigeons, pintails and mallards in the potato fields. The Whooper kindly stood near the road so we had a great view. > > Allen West Rd just east of Thomas Rd has an active eagle nest. > > Joe Leary Slough at D’Arcy Rd had 18 ring necked ducks, 42 wigeons and 4 mallards in view. > > And, there were at least 35 GBH on Padilla Bay at the north end of Padilla Bay Shore Trail- it was low tide. > > Of course bald eagles, red tail hawks, a jillion starlings and brewers blackbirds along whatever route you choose! > > Happy Birding, > Cindy_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/14/26 8:47 am From: Cynthia Simonsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Samish flats
Happy Pi Day!
For those taking a trip up to the Samish flats…
The daffodils are blooming! RoozenGarde Bloom map shows which fields have
daffodils this year.
Yesterday:
Chilberg Rd east of LaConner very near the farm at Chilberg Lane had two
large flocks of swans.
Sam Bell Rd east of Hwy 11, Chuckanut Drive, still had 1000’s of trumpeter
swans, wigeons, pintails and mallards in the potato fields. The Whooper
kindly stood near the road so we had a great view.
Allen West Rd just east of Thomas Rd has an active eagle nest.
Joe Leary Slough at D’Arcy Rd had 18 ring necked ducks, 42 wigeons and 4
mallards in view.
And, there were at least 35 GBH on Padilla Bay at the north end of Padilla
Bay Shore Trail- it was low tide.
Of course bald eagles, red tail hawks, a jillion starlings and brewers
blackbirds along whatever route you choose!
Date: 3/14/26 8:23 am From: Cynthia Simonsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
Neil,
I heard similar information years ago. It could also so be afterbirth from
lambing or calving. This occurs in two other Samish flat farms. The Bow
Cheese farm (although I haven’t seen it in a couple years) and at a farm on
Allen West Rd west of the Methodist Church.
Those eagles are amazing at scoping out food, kind of like the birders at
the East 90:-)
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:25 PM Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I led a trip last Sunday near Edison, WA. We passed a field that had about
> 50 Bald Eagles in it. They were feeding on a carcass, maybe one or more, in
> the middle of the field. This field is half ways between Edison and the
> east 90. Right by the tiger float if you know where that is. It might have
> been a deer carcass that had been hit on the road and made it to the center
> of the field. But years ago, I was told that someone who raises sheep dumps
> the bodies of sheep who don’t make it through lambing. Does anyone know
> more about this? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of sheep in this area. I
> have seen quite a few eagles in this area before but I have never heard
> more on why the carcasses where there. Gary?
> Neil Zimmerman
> Brier, WA
> n3zims @ Comcast.net
>
> Sent from my iPad
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/13/26 8:08 pm From: Nancy Crowell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
The Samish Cheese people raise beef cattle and sometimes put out the carcasses, but not in that field as far as I know. Not sure who might have put something there, but its possible it was something like that.
Nancy
La Conner
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2026 7:24:22 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
I led a trip last Sunday near Edison, WA. We passed a field that had about 50 Bald Eagles in it. They were feeding on a carcass, maybe one or more, in the middle of the field. This field is half ways between Edison and the east 90. Right by the tiger float if you know where that is. It might have been a deer carcass that had been hit on the road and made it to the center of the field. But years ago, I was told that someone who raises sheep dumps the bodies of sheep who dont make it through lambing. Does anyone know more about this? There doesnt seem to be a lot of sheep in this area. I have seen quite a few eagles in this area before but I have never heard more on why the carcasses where there. Gary?
Neil Zimmerman
Brier, WA
n3zims @ Comcast.net
Date: 3/13/26 8:05 pm From: Alan Roedell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
Eloquent!
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 7:25 PM Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> AreIs Bob's photos available online somewhere? Seems intriguing.
> Best Regards, Bob from Portland
> Or, preferably, send Bob down here.
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Hey Tweets,
>>
>> Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing to
>> Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because his
>> excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in Seattle
>> and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68. Bob
>> appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and the
>> south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired
>> lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s?
>> Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the
>> debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but
>> Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was
>> the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have
>> eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still
>> limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds.
>> When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new
>> birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to
>> get to know each other statewide.
>>
>> It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant to
>> give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar River
>> mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled by gull
>> identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a runt
>> Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much Jane, for
>> sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that of Amar.
>> And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull Guide.
>>
>> Good Birding,
>>
>> Carol Riddell
>> Edmonds, WA
>> cariddellwa at gmail dot com
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/13/26 7:35 pm From: Neil Zimmerman via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] 50 Bald Eagles
I led a trip last Sunday near Edison, WA. We passed a field that had about 50 Bald Eagles in it. They were feeding on a carcass, maybe one or more, in the middle of the field. This field is half ways between Edison and the east 90. Right by the tiger float if you know where that is. It might have been a deer carcass that had been hit on the road and made it to the center of the field. But years ago, I was told that someone who raises sheep dumps the bodies of sheep who don’t make it through lambing. Does anyone know more about this? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of sheep in this area. I have seen quite a few eagles in this area before but I have never heard more on why the carcasses where there. Gary?
Neil Zimmerman
Brier, WA
n3zims @ Comcast.net
Date: 3/13/26 7:35 pm From: Robert O'Brien via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
AreIs Bob's photos available online somewhere? Seems intriguing.
Best Regards, Bob from Portland
Or, preferably, send Bob down here.
On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 7:18 PM Carol Riddell via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hey Tweets,
>
> Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing to
> Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because his
> excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in Seattle
> and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68. Bob
> appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and the
> south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired
> lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s?
> Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the
> debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but
> Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was
> the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have
> eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still
> limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds.
> When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new
> birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to
> get to know each other statewide.
>
> It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant to
> give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar River
> mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled by gull
> identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a runt
> Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much Jane, for
> sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that of Amar.
> And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull Guide.
>
> Good Birding,
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds, WA
> cariddellwa at gmail dot com
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/13/26 7:19 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] A Gull Named Bob
Hey Tweets,
Okay. Showing my age here. How many still alive and still subscribing to Tweeters remember the ID controversy of Bob? Marv Breece does because his excellent photo of Bob appears on page 67 of Gene Hunn’s Birding in Seattle and King County (2d ed.) with some accompanying text on page 68. Bob appeared each winter between 2004 and 2009, in both the Kent Valley and the south end of Lake Washington (Cedar River mouth). Bob always inspired lively debates over his/her ID. Iceland nominate glaucoides? Thayer’s? Kumlien’s? Runt Glaucous Gull? Those were fun times to listen in on the debates of local experts. I don’t think Bob ever got a definitive ID, but Gene Hunn did get in the last word! Those were good times when Tweeters was the definitive place to share and discuss birding information. Now we have eBird, Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups by county, and Tweeters still limping along. I rue the balkanization of our sharing and discussing birds. When everyone came to the discussion table at Tweeters, it allowed new birders to benefit from more experienced birders and for lots of people to get to know each other statewide.
It is fun to see that even an expert such as Amar Ayyash is reluctant to give a definitive ID based on the Hadley-Robinson photo of the Cedar River mouth gull. But such fun to puzzle over the photo and to be humbled by gull identification. At least Amar did not offer the possibility of a runt Glaucous Gull! It is an Iceland Gull of some race. Thanks so much Jane, for sharing the photo, the various Tweeters opinions, as well as that of Amar. And I second Jane’s recommendation for his excellent 2024 Gull Guide.
Date: 3/13/26 6:15 pm From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Opinion from Amar Ayyash on the Iceland Gull ID
Hello Tweetsters -- As I reported a few days ago, opinions were very divided about the ID as to subspecies of an Iceland Gull that my husband and I saw at the mouth of the Cedar River on March 1, 2025.
(The headline on this picture page identifying it as Kumlien's was my opinion before I sought help from others via Tweeters.)
Specifically, 8 people thought it was a leucistic Thayer's Gull, 8 thought it was Kumlien's, 4 thought it was the Iceland (glaucoides) subspecies and two thought it was leucistic glaucoides subspecies. Another five people thought it was a different species altogether (Glaucous, American Herring, Ring-billed).
At the suggestion of one of our Tweeter members, I emailed gull expert Amar Ayyash to ask his opinion. I was very pleased when he replied. And here is his reply:
"I don't have a definite answer for you due to the immense overlap in both kumlieni and thayeri, and also, the seasonal effects on their pale plumages.
This could be a "real" Kumlien's Gull or, in March, a very bleached Thayer's Gull. Perhaps not safely identified to subspecies is the best answer, although here on the Great Lakes, or on the Atlantic, it would certainly default to Kumlien's [Iceland] Gull (Larus glaucoides kumlieni). I don't see a leucistic bird, however, and I don't see any need to assume nominate glaucoides is involved."
Amar Ayyash is author of the 518-page book The Gull Guide North America, which was published in 2024 by Princeton University Press. It's an excellent book.
Date: 3/13/26 8:35 am From: mary hrudkaj via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Port Orchard Great-Blue Heron rookery (or were those pterodactyls?)
Yesterday morning while driving toward the round-about at Bay and Bethel in Port Orchard, a group of 10-12 Great-Blue Herons took flight from their 45 plus strong rookery above the gas station. The group did a lower level flight around the round-about circle then returned to their nests. For a moment it was like watching a group of Pterodactyls flying around and back to the rookery. At least with GBH's one doesn't have to worry about being plucked up and taken back to feed the kids.
The rookery has been there for several decades now and has grown quite large. Back on March 5 I took time to count nests and came up with 45. Just about everyone had an adult standing on a nest making them easy to find. Both times I was there it was near to high tide. Makes one wonder how they all manage to feed their young when it's time. Considering all the military and other wastes, etc that have collected in Sinclair Inlet over the decades by the shipyard, it's amazing the flock is so healthy.
With the trees being leafless right now, it's easy to see the nests. There is parking across Bethel Rd in a little used mini-mall like business area.
Time to go throw some food down on the snow for my home birds.
Date: 3/12/26 2:07 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-03-12
Tweets - The night's high winds pretty much let up by 6:00 a.m., and we had no precipitation and temps comfortably in the mid-40's. What we didn't have was light. Thick, thick overcast kept the park almost too dark to bird at all for much of the morning. And, with a few exceptions, the birds seemed to have stayed in bed. Sensible of them.
AMERICAN CROWS and AMERICAN ROBINS were plentiful, as were NORTHERN FLICKERS. Besides those, we had a big up-tick in the number of PURPLE FINCH, who were seen and also heard well - calls, vireo-like songs, AND the typical repeated burbly songs. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were also numerous and singing.
Other that that, it was tough birding, and we had to search hard for virtually everything we managed to find.
I did think I heard RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD immediately south of the Dog Meadow, and after visiting the Rowing Club, I trekked back to that spot and found a displaying male. First of Year (FOY). That was are only new bird for the year; there were a dozen or two swallows flying high overhead, but they seemed to be all TREE SWALLOWS. No Violet-green Swallows for us yet.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Northern Shrike, Violet-green Swallow, and Pine Siskin.
For the day, we eked out 53 species. Adding RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, we're at 77 species for the survey this year.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 3/12/26 1:46 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE: “At first, we were puzzled.” Scientists track 69 ravens through Yellowstone – and make remarkable discovery
Date: 3/11/26 9:32 pm From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Identification of the Owl in the Antique Store in NY?
Hello Sharon,
Yes, it is and was identified as an Eastern screech owl.
To see several articles about it, Google: Owl in the Antique Store in NY?
Thanks for posting this article.
Dan Reiff
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 11, 2026, at 6:58 PM, Sharon Howard via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello All — if any of you saw the news story of the sleeping owl next to the cooky jar in the antique store in New York earlier this week, the species was not identified. Was it an Eastern Screech Owl or ?? Nice story and very cute little owl.
> Thanks,
> Sharon
> South Sunset Hill
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/11/26 8:17 pm From: Diann MacRae via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] TUVU winter report 2026
Hi, Tweets
This is a little late but spring is not quite here for our nesting and visiting turkey vultures. I didn't find while looking round e-bird any pockets of overwintering groups although I'm sure there were a few here and there. As far as ones heading north, quite a few - mostly singles - heading up the Oregon coast and the I-5 corridor. They do start drifting back north in late January and through February.
JANUARY
19 -- One adult turkey vulture soaring in from the east at Mt. Tabor Park, Portland, Multnomah Couny, Oregon.
27 -- Two at Anderson Road, Swale, Clackamas County, Oegon.
FEBRUARY
03 -- One adult at Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia.
08 -- Six turkey vultures at Saanich-Viaduct Flats, B.C.
08 -- Seven (two groups of 3 and 4 seen at the same time) from 831 West Tenth, Port Angeles, Clallam County (photo).
09 -- One at False Bay, San Juan Island (and County); one at Tacoma, Pierce County (photo).
09 -- A single seen feeding on roadkil along Irondale Road in Port Hadlock, Jefferson County, at 08:15 (this is the first report of the year I've received).
11 -- Three seen soaring with an immature bald eagle at Scatter Creek, Thurston County.
15 -- One flying low heading west near Black Diamond Road, Clallam County (photos).
15 -- Three turkey vultures seen from Siwash Observation Point, Nanaimo, B.C.
17 -- Three adults in flight over Beaver Valley Road, Chimacum, Jeffeson County (photos); one at Pender Island, B.C.; two over Lopez Island, San Juan County.
Looking forward to another good year of turkey vultures and other raptors and avian visitors. Comments are always welcome on reports; e-bird sightings aren't always descriptive.
Date: 3/11/26 7:46 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for March 11th, 2026
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 18 of us endured a wet and windy Wednesday at the Refuge with
temperatures in the 40's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit and a High 10'11" Tide
at 10:50am. Highlights included RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in the Orchard, high
count of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW moving through the Refuge in large numbers,
WILSON'S SNIPE in the flooded field west of the west end parking lot, both
NORTHWEST SALAMANDER and RED-LEGGED FROG egg clusters at the bridge cut-off
to the Twin Barns from the Twin Barn Loop Trail, two TRUMPETER SWANS in the
fresh water marsh, several WESTERN SANDPIPERS in a large flock of DUNLIN on
the mudflats west of Leschi Slough, first cycle Thayer's variety of ICELAND
GULL roosting on the mudflats, and many GREATER SCAUP off Luhr Beach in the
Nisqually Reach along with HORNED GREBE and COMMON LOON.
For the day we observed 66 species, with First Of Year Iceland Gull and
Greater Scaup, we now have seen 98 species this year. Check out our eBird
report with additional details pasted below.
Until next week when we hope for dryer weather and meet again at 8am at the
Visitor Center Pond Overlook. Happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Mar 11, 2026 7:32 AM - 2:22 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.048 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy with rain and temperatures
in the 40’s to 50’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 10’11” Tide at 10:50am.
Others seen Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Northwest Salamander egg cluster,
Red-legged Frog egg cluster, Pacific Chorus Frog, Eastern Gray Squirrel,
and Harbor Seal.
66 species (+6 other taxa)
Brant (Black) 46 Nisqually Reach, mouth of Leschi Slough.
Cackling Goose (minima) 60
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 1 Injured bird along Nisqually Estuary
Trail.
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 28
Trumpeter Swan 2 Seen in freshwater marsh.
Northern Shoveler 150
Gadwall 30
American Wigeon 1000
Mallard 75
Northern Pintail 200
Green-winged Teal (American) 600
Ring-necked Duck 4 Visitor Center Pond.
Greater Scaup 30 Nisqually Reach.
Surf Scoter 80
Bufflehead 100
Common Goldeneye 50
Hooded Merganser 6
Common Merganser (North American) 4
Red-breasted Merganser 6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 30
Rufous Hummingbird 1 Orchard.
American Coot (Red-shielded) 150
Killdeer 1 McAllister Creek Access Road.
Wilson's Snipe 1 Flooded field west of west parking lot.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West Bank of McAllister Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs 15
Dunlin 1100
Western Sandpiper 4 Seen at 1/4 mile using spotting scopes foraging on
mud flats along side Dunlin. Small peep sized shorebird that is lighter,
with lighter throat, and more crouched posture then Dunlin. Previously
reported.
Short-billed Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 50
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 20
Iceland Gull (Thayer's) 1 Observed roosting on mud flats 100-200 yards
north from Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike. Small pink legged gull first
cycle with black bill, brown wing tips with Buffy edges, small bill with no
gonydeal angle, and more fine details on mantle pattern.
Larus sp. 50
Horned Grebe 20
Common Loon 4
Brandt's Cormorant 6 Nisqually Channel marker.
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 30
Northern Harrier 2 1 male, 1 female.
Bald Eagle 25
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Northern Flicker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 2
American Kestrel (Northern) 1 Male
American Crow 150
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 6
Violet-green Swallow 300
Barn Swallow (American) 1
Bushtit (Pacific) 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15
Golden-crowned Kinglet 10
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren (Pacific) 1
Marsh Wren 10
Bewick's Wren (spilurus Group) 3
European Starling 25
American Robin (migratorius Group) 110
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 45
White-throated Sparrow 2 Seen in the afternoon along the Nisqually
Estuary Trail north of Twin Barns.
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 17
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 6
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 50
Orange-crowned Warbler (Gray-headed) 1 Trees, bramble south of
Nisqually Estuary Trail and north of Twin Barns.
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 10
Date: 3/11/26 7:04 pm From: Sharon Howard via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Identification of the Owl in the Antique Store in NY?
Hello All — if any of you saw the news story of the sleeping owl next to the cooky jar in the antique store in New York earlier this week, the species was not identified. Was it an Eastern Screech Owl or ?? Nice story and very cute little owl.
Thanks,
Sharon
South Sunset Hill _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/11/26 4:58 pm From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
Thank you both. I hope to make another trip up to the Skagit before they
leave.
On Wed, Mar 11, 2026 at 4:43 PM Nancy Crowell <nkcrowell...> wrote:
> There are tons of swans here.
>
> Nancy
> La Conner
>
> Nancy
> "Images for the imagination."
> www.crowellphotography.com
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf
> of Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 11, 2026 9:10:45 AM
> *To:* <jimbetz...> <jimbetz...>
> *Cc:* via Tweeters <tweeters...>
> *Subject:* Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
>
> Hi Jim,
>
> Are you still seeing Trumpeter Swans or have most of them left?
>
> I was there last week and I did not see any early departures then.
>
> Thanks,
> Ronda
>
> On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:30 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> ... the bridge is still out so the preserve is still closed. They
> are working 24/7 on the
> bridge repair but there is no predicted completion/resumption of
> vehicle traffic.
> - Jim in Skagit
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
>
Date: 3/11/26 4:52 pm From: Nancy Crowell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
There are tons of swans here.
Nancy
La Conner
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 9:10:45 AM
To: <jimbetz...> <jimbetz...>
Cc: via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
Hi Jim,
Are you still seeing Trumpeter Swans or have most of them left?
I was there last week and I did not see any early departures then.
Thanks,
Ronda
On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:30 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
Did you make it to Okanogan? I am toying with the idea of heading up this weekend.
Let us know how the birding is
Cheers,
Anna
AMK17
-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Houghton via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Mar 9, 2026 4:17 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Winter - Finally??
Hi Tweeters! - Well, according to the forecast, winter may actually happen this week! I'm excited and heading for the Waterville - Okanogan area on Thursday and wondering if anyone else is heading that way or has been there recently? I'm particularly interested in anyone's recent experience in looking for/finding(!!) usual winter treats there such as Snowy Owl (Atkins Lk area}?, Long-eared Owl, Gyrfalcon, Tree Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, crossbills, Chukar, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pygmy Owl, etc. If anyone is going to be over there from Thursday through Monday, let me know <jonbirder...> (mailto:<jonbirder...>) (206) 601-0773 and I'm happy to share info! Happy Birding! - Jon Houghton, Edmonds
Date: 3/11/26 9:18 am From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
Hi Jim,
Are you still seeing Trumpeter Swans or have most of them left?
I was there last week and I did not see any early departures then.
Thanks,
Ronda
On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:30 PM Jim Betz via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
>
> ... the bridge is still out so the preserve is still closed. They
> are working 24/7 on the
> bridge repair but there is no predicted completion/resumption of
> vehicle traffic.
> - Jim in Skagit
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/10/26 10:38 pm From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Reifel Still Closed ...
... the bridge is still out so the preserve is still closed. They
are working 24/7 on the
bridge repair but there is no predicted completion/resumption of
vehicle traffic.
- Jim in Skagit
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/10/26 6:06 pm From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Contact info needed
Does anyone out there know how to get in contact with Jef Blake who lives in eastern WA and posts to eBird? Likely the Benton County area. I want to know more about the Trumpeter Swan sighting he posts on eBird Rare Bird Alert for Benton County. Thanks. Please pass on my contact info email: mj.cygnus at gmail dot com
Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the researchers compared the brain structures of 29 expert birders with 29 beginners. The two groups were gender-balanced and matched in age.
Scans revealed that the parts of the brain associated with attention and perception were more compact in the expert birders, and these structural changes made them better at identifying birds.
Specifically, the water molecules in these brain regions were able to move more freely, seeming to boost their identification abilities, making them better at detecting less familiar or less local birds.
Learning of any kind (such as a new instrument or language) is great for your brain, but the research argues that birding skills are particularly good because of their complexity.
“What’s interesting about this work is that birdwatching places sustained demands on your perception, attention and memory, so you can never fully run on autopilot,” Prof Martin Sliwinski <https://hhd.psu.edu/contact/martin-sliwinski> told BBC Science Focus. Sliwinski, who was not involved in the study, is the director of the Center for Healthy Aging at Penn State, in the US.
“If cognitively stimulating activities are going to have cognitive benefits, they likely need to stay challenging, which birdwatching does,” he continued.
“Even expert birders can’t rely on automatic responses because environments and cues continually change, often under uncertainty and time pressure.”
What’s more, the researchers think these skills, and the structural changes they cause, could boost cognition into older age. That’s because the older birders in the study had better facial recognition than beginners, indicating improved information recall.
Yet Sliwinski cautioned that there may be some other factors at play, since people “with stronger cognitive abilities and an interest in birds may be more likely to take up birding, persist in it and become experts.”
In other words, it may not be that birdwatching sharpens the brain, but that people with certain cognitive strengths are naturally drawn to it.
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/10/26 12:08 pm From: Sally Alhadeff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Rock Pigeon deterrence
Hello fellow Tweeters.
Has anyone had success deterring Rock Pigeons from entering into outbuildings using ultrasonic sound devices or other technology solution? My parents’ old farm shop in rural Thurston county has been invaded by 7 pigeons.
It’s not practical to enclose the area above the sliding barn door.
Any info or experience would be appreciated.
Date: 3/10/26 11:17 am From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Follow up on the call for ID help on a gull
Hello Tweetsters - Thank you to those who responded to my request for help
identifying a gull my husband and I saw at Cedar River Mouth March 1st.
Twenty-seven people weighed in. I think it's safe to say that we do not
have a consensus on the identification. That's not surprising given the
continuing debate about subspecies vs. hybrids and the difficulties
identifying the subspecies. Birds of the World says "Subspecies ... are
not always separable."
I had other pictures of the bird standing next to other species, which
might have been helpful in identifying it. I should have included those
pictures. Here is a link to them now:
Three subspecies of Iceland Gull are generally recognized today: 1) the
nominate or Iceland subspecies of the Iceland Gull; 2) Kumlien's; 3)
Thayer's.
The three subspecies mainly differ in the darkness and patterning of the
wingtips in adults and older immatures. Iceland subspecies has very pale,
often pure or nearly pure white wingtips. The Kumlien's wingtip tone is
intermediate gray. The Thayer's wingtips darkest of the three: dark gray to
almost black.
There are also geographical differences, with Thayer's the most common in
our area, Iceland rare, and Kumlien's in between. If you look under
"Systematics" and then "Geographic Variation" of the Iceland Gull at Birds
of the World, there is a discussion and links to eBird range maps for each
of the subspecies.
I think I made a mistake in relegating the Iceland subspecies to the
"Other" category rather than listing it as a third option, even though it
is mostly found in Greenland, Iceland and Europe. Within the "Other"
category, I am assuming that when people said "Iceland," they were
referring to the subspecies rather than the species name, unless they said
otherwise. Under that interpretation, there were 4 votes for the Iceland
subspecies (6 if you count "Leucistic Iceland"). So in presenting the
results, I'm counting Iceland subspecies as a third option.
Total votes: 27
Leucistic Thayer's 8 or 30%
Kumlien's 8 or 30% [Includes one vote by email]
Iceland subspecies 4 or 15%
Other 7 or 26%
The 7 Other IDs:
1. Leucistic Iceland - 2 votes
2. Immature Glaucous - 2 votes
3. Thayer's 2nd or third year - 1 vote
4. American Herring Gull - 2nd year - 1 vote
5. Ring-billed - 1 vote
I submitted three pictures to Merlin, which identified all of them as
Iceland Gull. Merlin does not do subspecies. But Merlin does not think it's
a Glaucous, Herring or Ring-billed.
Below are the comments submitted along with the votes. I have removed the
names associated with the comments since I didn't ask permission to publish
the names on the Internet. (Probably another mistake on my part.)
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:00:28 =====
Vote: Kumlien's Gull
Explanation: While hard to eliminate a worn Thayer’s Gull, I see no reason
why this isn’t a Kumlien’s.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:18:14 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: It’s hard to say for sure but I’m fairly certain it’s not a
Kumlien’s type. I think this coloration is safe to rule that out. It
appears to be a leucistic Iceland sized gull though
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:18:46 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: The bill is characteristic of a late second cycle or even
early 3rd cycle L.g. thayeri. The irides has not attained adult
coloration.Pink legs. Heavily bleached out indicating some retention of
previous cycle feathering, Next molt will be either full adult or
sub-adult. Not kumlieni.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:20:03 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: Iceland Gull
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:53:21 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: Was it too big to be an immature Glaucous Gull?
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 15:56:18 =====
Vote: Kumlien's Gull
Explanation: Definitely some kind of Iceland Gull. Maybe Kumlien's. Mind
you, I am not a gull expert!
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:00:44 =====
Vote: Kumlien's Gull
Explanation: Looks very much like a subadult Iceland Gull to me. Tiny bill,
long wings, not to mention that all coloration elements look good for that
species. And it was good to see it in comparison with both larger and
smaller species.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:01:33 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: This gull looks a lot like the third cycle Iceland nominate in
Amar Ayash's The Gull Guide (Princeton University Press 2024). See page
422, photograph 21. That bird is a third cycle gull. Your gull shows the
bill of a second cycle nominate in photo 16 on the same page. The puzzle
that are many gulls can be frustrating but also such fun. Please post your
further thoughts, as well as a summary of viewer comments to Tweeters.
Thanks!
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:05:41 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: Iceland Gull
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:05:43 =====
Vote: Leucistic Thayer's Gull
Explanation: Bill looks good for Iceland Gull (Thayer's). I don't believe
there are any gulls that are pure white without any markings. Love your
poll.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:08:25 =====
Vote: Leucistic Thayer's Gull
Explanation: I'm not sure there is a right answer but it appears to have
molted some juvenile scaps so I'm thinking it is second cycle and the scaps
are a little darker than what might be found in some pale (per the Gull
Guide by Amar Ayyash) variants of Kumliens. So Leucistic Thayer's seems
right but a Kumliens might also have some leucism.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 16:36:49 =====
Vote: Kumlien's Gull
Explanation: Bill slightly smaller than Thayer's. Rounder, slgithly smaller
head profile. Light iris. Looks a bit like some photos of second winter
Kumliens. But I'm no expert. there's a nice Gull ID page on FB that would
I'm sure give you some good feedback.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 17:48:08 =====
Vote: Leucistic Thayer's Gull
Explanation: I have seen this bird at the Yellow Freight Building in
Tukwila! It doesn’t scream Kumlien’s to me due to the pure white and lack
of any light brown patterning that would be typical of immature Kumlien’s.
Apparently this is a bird that has been seen and documented returning to
the area over the past few years.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 20:07:29 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: American herring gull, 2nd year. The pink in the bill rules
out Icelandic gull, eliminating your other choices. herring gulls can be
nearly all white as second year gull but will have the dark wing tips,
which you can just see in this photo.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 20:23:04 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: It’s hard to say for sure but I’m fairly certain it’s not a
Kumlien’s type. I think this coloration is safe to rule that out. It
appears to be a leucistic Iceland sized gull though
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 20:58:08 =====
Vote: Leucistic Thayer's Gull
Explanation: I have seen this bird at the Yellow Freight Building in
Tukwila! It doesn’t scream Kumlien’s to me due to the pure white and lack
of any light brown patterning that would be typical of immature Kumlien’s.
Apparently this is a bird that has been seen and documented returning to
the area over the past few years.
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 22:16:28 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: Iceland Gull, not sure what subspecies. If I were at home, I'd
get out my big gull book...but I'm in Hawaii!
===== Submission: 2026-03-09 22:41:48 =====
Vote: Other
Explanation: My first guess would be ring billed bill with a pigment issue
--but that's almost entirely a guess.
Date: 3/9/26 4:34 pm From: Ann Kramer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Latest on parking fees at Montlake Fill
That's good news, Connie.
By the way, I saw the first Rufous of the season at the feeder on Saturday.
Ann
On Mon, Mar 9, 2026 at 12:12 PM Constance Sidles via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Hey tweets, I just heard of a partial reversal of parking fees at the
> Montlake Fill parking lot. Here is an email from Mark Huppert, interim
> director of the UW's transportation services:
>
> I have reviewed [the comments] on the proposed changes to the parking fee
> at UW's Parking Lot E16 by the Center for Urban Horticulture and Union Bay
> Natural Area.
>
>
>
> During the 30-day comment period which closed last week, 118 of the 120
> public comments we received on our campus parking rate proposal were in
> opposition to the $5/day fee at E16. There were some excellent suggestions
> from community members of how UW can meet the needs of the community while
> also balancing our need for financial sustainability and compliance under
> our transportation management plan. As a result, we will be advancing a
> revised proposal to the Board of Regents that provides 2-hours of free
> parking for E16 to allow continued community and volunteer access to the
> Urban Bay Natural Area, Center for Urban Horticulture, Miller Library, and
> UW Farm. Beyond the 2-hour limit, parking will be $5/day. All vehicles will
> be required to register their license plate at a new kiosk to be placed on
> site at E16 or by using the Pay-By-Phone application. We hope that this
> hybrid registration approach satisfies the technology fears of the many
> retirees who provided public comment as well as your concerns about
> neighborhood parking.
>
>
>
> Thank you for your sharing your concerns and being an active contributor
> in the public process.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mark Huppert
>
> Interim Director| Transportation Services
> UW Facilities
>
> Transportation Services Building
> 1320 NE Campus Parkway | PO Box 355360 | Seattle, WA 98195
> mobile 206-295-9315
>
> *<mhuppert...> <mhuppert...>*
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/9/26 4:25 pm From: Jon Houghton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Winter - Finally??
Hi Tweeters! - Well, according to the forecast, winter may actually happen this week! I'm excited and heading for the Waterville - Okanogan area on Thursday and wondering if anyone else is heading that way or has been there recently? I'm particularly interested in anyone's recent experience in looking for/finding(!!) usual winter treats there such as Snowy Owl (Atkins Lk area}?, Long-eared Owl, Gyrfalcon, Tree Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, crossbills, Chukar, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pygmy Owl, etc. If anyone is going to be over there from Thursday through Monday, let me know <jonbirder...> mailto:<jonbirder...> (206) 601-0773 and I'm happy to share info! Happy Birding! - Jon Houghton, Edmonds _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/9/26 1:29 pm From: Jim Ullrich via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wings Over Water Blaine WA
Howdy Tweets:
Hope to see everyone at this coming weekends Birdy festival “Wings Over
Water” in Blaine WA
Please visit our website for activities, dinners and vendor updates.
https://wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com
Jim Ullrich
Swarovski Optiks
7075 Corfu Blvd NE
Bremerton, WA 98311
Date: 3/9/26 12:20 pm From: Constance Sidles via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Latest on parking fees at Montlake Fill
Hey tweets, I just heard of a partial reversal of parking fees at the Montlake Fill parking lot. Here is an email from Mark Huppert, interim director of the UW's transportation services:
I have reviewed [the comments] on the proposed changes to the parking fee at UW's Parking Lot E16 by the Center for Urban Horticulture and Union Bay Natural Area.
During the 30-day comment period which closed last week, 118 of the 120 public comments we received on our campus parking rate proposal were in opposition to the $5/day fee at E16. There were some excellent suggestions from community members of how UW can meet the needs of the community while also balancing our need for financial sustainability and compliance under our transportation management plan. As a result, we will be advancing a revised proposal to the Board of Regents that provides 2-hours of free parking for E16 to allow continued community and volunteer access to the Urban Bay Natural Area, Center for Urban Horticulture, Miller Library, and UW Farm. Beyond the 2-hour limit, parking will be $5/day. All vehicles will be required to register their license plate at a new kiosk to be placed on site at E16 or by using the Pay-By-Phone application. We hope that this hybrid registration approach satisfies the technology fears of the many retirees who provided public comment as well as your concerns about neighborhood parking.
Thank you for your sharing your concerns and being an active contributor in the public process.
Date: 3/9/26 12:10 pm From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] ID help wanted
Hello Tweetsters - It would be great if I could get opinions from the learned body of Tweeters members about the identification of a gull that my husband Randy and I saw at Cedar River Mouth March 1.
You can see the picture and give your "vote" and comments here:
Date: 3/5/26 4:08 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-03-05
Tweets - The morning started misty-moisty and dark. We had a bit of clearing, and then steady drizzle when we got to the East Meadow. This miraculously disappeared by the time I got to the Rowing Club, so after that I returned to the East Meadow for a sunny return visit. Temps in the high 40's, no wind or fog.
Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - Five below the weir - First since January, but possibly the same birds California Gull - Perhaps 25 mixed in with GWGU, a few Ring-billeds, and many Short-billed Gulls on the grass fields Great Blue Heron - Nest building, and growing numbers - maybe 125 birds today Cooper's Hawk - I had one on my return to the East Meadow Five Woodpecker Day - All but Downy seen very well during the Main Loop. I had one Downy at the Rowing Club. Northern Flickers seemed especially numerous Northern Shrike - North of Fields 7-8-9, and later at the East Meadow. Very sharp-looking bird Tree Swallow - Perhaps 20, in several places. First of Year(FOY) Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Especially numerous, with much-lots-many singing! Varied Thrush - One heard singing west of the slough from the start of the boardwalk. Maybe the same one heard closer at the Rowing Club American Robin - Much singing, including a full pre-dawn chorus when I arrived at 5:40 a.m. White-throated Sparrow - One just south of the heronry along the slough trail "Eastern" Song Sparrow - I spotted this pale bird in the usual west-edge-of-the-East-Meadow spot on my late return Western Meadowlark - At least 2 singing on my late return to the East Meadow Yellow-rumped Warblers - Maybe as many as 10; they've been notably missing recently
We also had great looks at a Muskrat.
Misses today included Cackling Goose, Green-winged Teal, and Pine Siskin.
For the day, 61 species (best so far in 2026). Adding TREE SWALLOW, we're up to 76 species for the survey in 2026.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 3/5/26 1:10 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOY Band-Tailed Pigeon
About 3 weeks ago I observed an ANHU picking dryer lint from the lint holder I have out in the garden. So there’s clearly some nesting activity under way here in Burien. Haven’t discovered the nest though.
Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA
> On Mar 5, 2026, at 12:10, Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> By the way, my Anna’s Hummingbird is still on eggs, no sign of hatchlings yet. I’m seeing lots of photos posted by others of ANHU babies getting fed. Is my little mama behind the curve, or are others still seeing active nests with no hatchlings?
>
Yes, I had my first hearing of Band-tailed Pigeons yesterday morning here in West Seattle! Always a joy to know they’re out there, even when I can’t lay eyes on them.
By the way, my Anna’s Hummingbird is still on eggs, no sign of hatchlings yet. I’m seeing lots of photos posted by others of ANHU babies getting fed. Is my little mama behind the curve, or are others still seeing active nests with no hatchlings?
From: mary hrudkaj via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 2:23 PM
To: Tweeters Tweeters Bird Chat <Tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] FOY Band-Tailed Pigeon
I was surprised to see are freshly returned Band-tailed pigeon on my back deck a few minutes ago. It was right on time as they usually return the first week in March. It was with a small group of Mourning Doves feeding on sunflower seeds.
I was pleasantly surprised on Monday to see a Kestrel on powerlines along Hwy 3 by the Bremerton Airport in the early afternoon. I haven't seen a kestrel in that area in several years now. About a half-mile away was a resident red-tailed hawk that I see fairly regularly around the airport. Last fall I had the joy of watching it soar about 20 above the runway for several hundred fee which caused a small incoming aircraft to detour and come around. Nice to know at least at Bremerton airport birds sometimes do have the right-of-way.
Date: 3/4/26 4:33 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FOY Band-Tailed Pigeon
BTPI are one of the most handsome birds we have around here. It’s always a treat to watch them flap around the neighborhood. We’ve had a few for the past month here.
Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA
> On Mar 4, 2026, at 14:23, mary hrudkaj via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I was surprised to see are freshly returned Band-tailed pigeon on my back deck a few minutes ago. It was right on time as they usually return the first week in March. It was with a small group of Mourning Doves feeding on sunflower seeds.
>
> Mary Hrudkaj
> Belfair/Tahuya
Date: 3/4/26 2:34 pm From: mary hrudkaj via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] FOY Band-Tailed Pigeon
I was surprised to see are freshly returned Band-tailed pigeon on my back deck a few minutes ago. It was right on time as they usually return the first week in March. It was with a small group of Mourning Doves feeding on sunflower seeds.
I was pleasantly surprised on Monday to see a Kestrel on powerlines along Hwy 3 by the Bremerton Airport in the early afternoon. I haven't seen a kestrel in that area in several years now. About a half-mile away was a resident red-tailed hawk that I see fairly regularly around the airport. Last fall I had the joy of watching it soar about 20 above the runway for several hundred fee which caused a small incoming aircraft to detour and come around. Nice to know at least at Bremerton airport birds sometimes do have the right-of-way.
Date: 3/2/26 12:29 am From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] American Dipper
After I "dipped" on American Dipper earlier this year at Tumwater Falls, I managed to find one today at South Prairie Creek. You can park at Veterans Park and walk over to the former railroad bridge, now used for the Foothill Trail. You can normally find a dipper under the bridge and they likely nest under it, but today people were skipping rocks there. I did find the Dipper on the other side upstream sitting on a rock. They actually blend in quite well. Looking for a Dipper, you can tell if they are around by their droppings on rocks. I watched this bird for a while . It would walk under water, only to pop up again like a cork and drift downstream like one. Every so often it would dive again. Another nice find was a pair of American Kestrels on the powerline wire across from the Foothill Trail parking lot in East Puyallup.
Good Birding !
Hans -- *Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA <thefedderns...>
