Fall 2018

WBRC FALL 2018 MEETING RESULTS

Saturday, October 20, 2018, the Washington Bird Records Committee met at the Slater Museum for its annual meeting. Here’s a summary of our results.

  • 65 reports were accepted as valid new records.
  • 1 additional record was accepted as a continuing sighting of a record previously accepted at an earlier meeting.
  • 18 reports were not accepted
  • 1 decision was tabled for further research

The WBRC accepted two species new to the state list: Purple Gallinule and Painted Redstart.
In addition, the WBRC accepted one new subspecies to the state list: “White-winged” Dark-eyed Junco.

This brings the official Washington State Checklist to 515 species, including 500 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 15 species which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).

Six species were removed from the review list after meeting our review standard of approximately 20 records in the last 10 years:

  • Short-tailed Albatross (29 records, 20 since 2009).
  • Mottled Petrel (27 records, 20 since 2009).
  • Brown Booby (25 records, 21 since 2009).
  • Black-and-white Warbler (51 records, 23 since 2009).
  • Tennessee Warbler (44 records, 25 since 2009).
  • Chestnut-sided Warbler (43 records, 22 since 2009).

Key:
Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)
[Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]

ACCEPTED RECORDS:

PUGA-2017-1, Purple Gallinule – 14 December 2017, Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County, fide Charlie Wright, Janet Lamonth [p], Nancy Messmer [p] (Identity: 7-0-0; Origin Wild = 7, Uncertain = 0). State first record.

WRSA-2018-1, White-rumped Sandpiper — 27 May 2018, Hoquiam STP, Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County, Peter Olsoy [w, p], (7-0-0).

BHGU-2018-1, Black-headed Gull — 28-29 April 2018, McNeil St., Nisqually, Pierce County, Will Brooks [w, p], Bruce LaBar [w], Marcus Roening [w], (7-0-0).

SBGU-2017-3, Slaty-backed Gull — 16 October 2017, Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Will Brooks [w, p], (7-0-0).

SBGU-2018-1, Slaty-backed Gull — 9-12 March 2018, Puyallup River, Tacoma, Pierce County, Michael Charest [p], (7-0-0). Committee agreed this is a different individual than earlier Tacoma SBGU.

Short-tailed Albatross records: The WBRC received data from a study that used GPS tracking which included the following nine records in Washington waters, helping to illustrate how regular Short-tailed Albatross have become off our coast.

STAL-2009-1, Short-tailed Albatross –25-26 September 2009, 15-16 October 2009, off-shore, Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific, GPS data fide Rachel Orben, (7-0-0). NOTE: This individual was previously accepted with a narrower data range. These details supersede previous voted on details.

STAL-2009-2, Short-tailed Albatross –27-29 October 2009, 31 October – 1 November 2009, 6-11 December 2009, 5-7 March 2010, 10 March 2010, 19-22 February 2011 off shore, Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific County, GPS data fide Rachel Orben, (7-0-0).

STAL-2010-3, Short-tailed Albatross –16-18 March 2010, 31 May – 1 June 2010, off shore, Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific County, GPS data fide Rachel Orben, (7-0-0).

STAL-2010-5, Short-tailed Albatross — 3-9 March 2010, 2-5 April 2010, 8 April 2010, 14 February 2011, off shore, Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific County, GPS data fide Rachel Orben, (7-0-0).

STAL-2011-2, Short-tailed Albatross –1-2 March 2011, 22 January 2012 off shore, Grays Harbor County, GPS data fide Rachel Orben, (7-0-0).

STAL-2011-3, Short-tailed Albatross –21-22 February 2011, 1 March 2011, 15-18 January 2012, 18-19 February 2012, 29 February 2012, 2 March 2012, off shore, Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific County, GPS data fide Rachel Orben, (7-0-0). (Originally reviewed as STAL-2010-4).

STAL-2012-3, Short-tailed Albatross –21 January 2012, 11 March 2012, 30-31 January 2013, 23-25 February 2013, 19 December 2013, off shore, Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific County, GPS data fide Rachel Orben, (7-0-0).

STAL-2012-4, Short-tailed Albatross –25-26 November 2012, 23-25 December 2012, 7 February 2013, 16-18 February 2013, off shore, Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific County, GPS data fide Rachel Orben, (7-0-0).

STAL-2012-5, Short-tailed Albatross – 12 December 2012, 17 December 2012, 22-23 March 2013 off shore, Clallam, Grays Harbor County, GPS data fide Rachel Orben, (7-0-0).

MOPE-2017-2, Mottled Petrel — 1 December 2017, 47.789292, -125.09766, Clallam County, Olivier Barden [w], (7-0-0).

BRBO-2018-3, Brown Booby — 20 May 2018, Hoh River Mouth, Jefferson County, Dan Waggoner [w], (7-0-0).

SNEG-2017-1, Snowy Egret – 8 September 2017 – 4 March 2018, End of Lower River Road pool, Vancouver, Clark County, 2 birds, through Dec, then one: Jim Danzenbaker [w, p], Georgia Gerrior [w, p], Randy Hill [w, p], Matt Bartels [p] and 7-8 October 2018, Ridgefield NWR, Clark County, Randy Hill [w], (7-0-0). Note committee voted to treat as a single record.

STFL-2018-1, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher — 1 May 2018, Cape Alava, Clallam County Devon Cupery [w], and 11 June 2018, Sand Point, Clallam County, Christopher Hinkle [w, p], (7-0-0). Note committee voted to treat both sightings as a single persisting individual.

STFL-2018-3, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher — 12-13 July 2018, Sekiu, Clallam County, Martha Ellul [w, v], (7-0-0).

ALFL-2018-1, Alder Flycatcher — 18-24 June 2018, Kalispell Reservation Dike Rd., Pend Oreille County, Jon Isacoff [w, a, v], Terry Little [a], Russ Koppendrayer [a], (6-0-1).

EAPH-2018-1, Eastern Phoebe — 24 June 2018, Julia Butler Hanson NWR, Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County, Matt Bartels [w, p, a, v], (7-0-0).

PHVI-2018-1, Philadelphia Vireo — 28 May 2018, Lyons Ferry, Franklin County, Spencer Hildie[w], (7-0-0).

EUSK-2017-4, Eurasian Skylark – 6-10 November 2017, Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Jordan Gunn [p], Tom Mansfield [p], Ryan Merrill [p], Brad Waggoner [p] (7-0-0). No subspecies determined. Treated as separate from EUSK-2017-1 and EUSK-2018-1.

EUSK-2018-1, Eurasian Skylark — 19-24 March 2018, Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Brad Waggoner [w, p], (6-0-1). No subspecies determined. Treated as separate from EUSK-2017-1 and EUSK-2017-4.

BGGN-2017-3, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (No subspecies established) – 29-30 September 2017, Neah Bay, Jetty base, Clallam County, Linda Mack [p], Brad Waggoner [p] (ID: 7-0-0; Subspecies: subspecies not established = 7). BGGN-2017-3, -5, & -7 treated as separate individuals.

BGGN-2017-4, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Western subspecies) – 8 October 2017, Central Ferry SP, Whitman County, RJ Baltierra [p, a] (ID: 7-0-0; Subspecies: Western = 7).

BGGN-2017-5, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Eastern subspecies) – 24-26 October 2017, Neah Bay, Hobuck Beach, Clallam County, Michael Barry [w], Alex Patia [w, p] (ID: 7-0-0; Subspecies: Eastern = 7). BGGN-2017-3, -5, & -7 treated as separate individuals.

BGGN-2017-6, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (No subspecies established) – 27 October – 14 November 2017, Crow Butte SP, Benton County, Christopher Lindsey [w, p], Laurie Ness [w] (ID: 7-0-0; Subspecies: subspecies not established = 7).

BGGN-2017-7, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Eastern subspecies) – 7 November 2017, Neah Bay, Makah Passage, Clallam County, David Poortinga [p, a] (ID: 7-0-0; Subspecies: Eastern = 7). BGGN-2017-3, -5, & -7 treated as separate individuals.

BGGN-2018-1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (No subspecies established) — 22 April 2018, Kennewick, Benton County, Dartanya Helgeson [w], (ID: 6-1-0; Subspecies: subspecies not established = 7).

BGGN-2018-2, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Western subspecies) — 5-6 May 2018, Klickitat Trail 1 mile w of Harms Rd., Centerville, Klickitat County, Michael Hobbs [w, a, v, p], Joshua Holman [p], Samuel Holman [a], Matt Bartels [a], (ID: 7-0-0; Subspecies: Western = 6, Abstain = 1).

NOWH-2018-1, Northern Wheatear — 27 August 2018, Sunrise, Mt. Rainier NP, Pierce County, Tasha Dimarzio [w, p], (7-0-0).

WHWA-2018-1, White Wagtail (ocularis subspecies) – 24-28 January 2018, Neal Rd/SE 19th Way, Fall City, King County, Blair Bernson [p], Joshua Glant [p], Jordan Gunn [p], Tom Mansfield [p], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p] (ID: 7-0-0; Subspecies: ocularis = 7).

HORE-2018-2, Hoary Redpoll — 21-22 February 2018, Davenport, Morrison/Omans Rd, Lincoln County, Russ Morgan [w, p], (6-1-0).

LCSP-2018-1, LeConte’s Sparrow — 31 August 2018, Discovery Park, Seattle, King County, Jason Vassallo [w, a, p], Blair Bernson [p], Gregg Thompson [p], John Puschock [p], Matt Dufort [w] (7-0-0).

TBFS-2018-1, “Thick-billed” Fox Sparrow — 22, 29 July 2018, Meta Lake, Mt. St. Helens, Skamania County, Matt Bartels [w, a], Shawneen Finnegan, David Irons [w, p, a], (6-1-0).

WWJU-2018-1, “White-winged” Dark-eyed Junco — 13-17 April 2018, Washougal, Skamania County, Wilson Cady [w, p], (7-0-0). State first record for this subspecies.

COGR-2018-1, Common Grackle — 20 May 2018, Newhalem, Whatcom County, Eric Heisey [w, p], (7-0-0).

COGR-2018-2, Common Grackle — 7-8 June 2018, Wa’atch Beach Rd & Butler’s Motel, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Adrianne Akmajian [w, p], Christopher Hinkle [w, p], (7-0-0).

COGR-2018-3, Common Grackle — 8 June 2018, 8170 Healy Road, near Cockreham Island, Skagit County, Gary Bletsch [w, p], (7-0-0).

GTGR-2018-1, Great-tailed Grackle — 29 May 2018, Sprague rest area, e-bound I-90, Sprague, Lincoln County, Larry Goodhew [w, p], Dave Poortinga [p], (7-0-0).

GTGR-2018-2, Great-tailed Grackle — 1 September 2018, Point Roberts, Whatcom County, Ken Klimko [w], (6-0-1).

OVEN-2018-1, Ovenbird — 1 June 2018, Snow Mountain Ranch, Yakima County, Andy Stepniewski [w], Ellen Stepniewski [a], (7-0-0).

BAWW-2017-2, Black-and-White Warbler — 23 September 2017, Montlake Fill, Seattle, King County, Blake Hough [w], Adrian Lee [w], (7-0-0).

BAWW-2018-1, Black-and-White Warbler — 30 May 2018, Lee Williams Chestnut Farm, Grant County, Matt Yawney [w, p], (7-0-0).

BAWW-2018-2, Black-and-white Warbler — 19 August 2018, Discovery Park, Seattle, King County, Alan Grenon [w], Spencer Hildie[w, p], (7-0-0).

BAWW-2018-3, Black-and-white Warbler — 5 September 2018, near Hooper, Adams County, Bob Flores [w], (6-1-0).

TEWA-2017-2, Tennessee Warbler — 25 September 2017, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Alex Patia [w, p], (7-0-0).

TEWA-2018-2, Tennessee Warbler — 29-30 August 2018, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Ryan Merrill [w], Edward Pullen [w], Bruce LaBar [w], Ken Brown [w], (7-0-0).

TEWA-2018-3, Tennessee Warbler — 30 August 2018, Chelan Ridge, Okanogan County, Andrew Meiborg [w], (6-0-1).

TEWA-2018-4, Tennessee Warbler — 8 September 2018, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Ryan Merril [w, a], Charlie Wright [w], (7-0-0).

TEWA-2018-5, Tennessee Warbler — 14 September 2018, Lee Williams Chestnut Farm, Grant County, Matt Yawney [w, p], (6-0-1).

MAWA-2018-1, Magnolia Warbler — 4 September 2018, W.E.Johnson Park, Richland, Benton County, Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p], (7-0-0).

MAWA-2018-2, Magnolia Warbler — 6 September 2018, Potholes SP, Grant County, Matt Yawney [w, p], (7-0-0).

BBWA-2018-1, Bay-breasted Warbler — 24 May 2018, Lions Park, Ephrata, Grant County, Matt Yawney [w, p, a], (7-0-0).

CSWA-2018-1, Chestnut-sided Warbler — 3 September 2018, Rocky Coulee Rec Area, Vantage, Kittitas County, Denise LaPerriere [w, p], (7-0-0).

CSWA-2018-2, Chestnut-sided Warbler — 5 September 2018, Neah Bay Jetty Road, Clallam County, Jordan Gunn [p], (7-0-0).

CSWA-2018-3, Chestnut-sided Warbler — 5 September 2018, Potholes SP, Grant County, Matt Yawney [w, p], (7-0-0).

CSWA-2018-4, Chestnut-sided Warbler — 8 September 2018, Lyons Ferry, Franklin County, Michael Hobbs [w], Matt Bartels[w], Edward Pullen [w, p], Ken Brown [w], Eric Dudley [p], (7-0-0).

CSWA-2018-5, Chestnut-sided Warbler — 14 September 2018, Wa’atch Valley, Neah Bay, Clallam County, Bob Boekelheide [w, p], (7-0-0).

BLPW-2018-1, Blackpoll Warbler — 5 September 2018, Potholes SP, Grant County, Matt Yawney [w, p], (6-0-1).

PARE-2018-1, Painted Redstart — 25 August – 16 September 2018, Cape Flattery, Clallam County, Carolyn Wilcox [w], Edward Pullen [w], Ryan Merrill [p, a], Michael Charest [p], Jordan Gunn [p], Geert Van De Vijver [p], Asta Tobiassen [p], Bill Tweit [a], (7-0-0). State first record.

PABU-2017-1, Painted Bunting — 18-23 November 2017, La Conner, Skagit County, Brian Bell [w, p], William Rockwell [w, p], Blair Bernson [p] Jordan Gunn [p], Tom Mansfield [p], Ryan Merrill [p], (YES = 6, Origin uncertain = 1). Also voted not to combine with PABU-2017-2.

PABU-2017-2, Painted Bunting — 3-6 December 2017, Bellingham, Whatcom County, Jason Garat [w, p], (YES = 6, Origin uncertain = 1). Also voted not to combine with PABU-2017-1.

DICK-2018-1, Dickcissel — 1 June 2018, Pleasant Hill Road, Kelso, Cowlitz County, Beth Craig [w], Royce Craig [p], (7-0-0).

RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:

Slaty-backed Gull in Benton County: The committee agreed that the Nov 2017-Feb 2018 record of a Slaty-backed Gull in Benton County (formerly treated as SBGU-2017-5) is best treated as a returning instance of SBGU-2016-1, the prior sighting of this species in the area the previous two winters. The two records are merged and treated as SBGU-2016-1.
Dates and observation info for Nov 2017-Feb 2018 observations:
Slaty-backed Gull – 25 November 2017 – 11 February 2018, Columbia Park Marina, Kennewick, Nelson Island, Richland, Benton County, James Cleaver [w, p, v], Eric Heisey [w, p], Jane Abel [p] (7-0-0).

REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:

WHOS-2018-1, Whooper Swan — 1-3 April 2018, 5 mi s of Elma, Grays Harbor County (ID = 7-0-0, Origin = 0-7-0).

BLUH/RIHU-2018-1, Blue-throated / Rivoli’s Hummingbird — 16 July 2018, Ravenna, Seattle, King County, (0-7-0).

XAHU-2018-1, Xantus’s Hummingbird — 24 July 2018, Port Angeles, Clallam County, (0-7-0).

WHCR-2018-1, Whooping Crane — 8 April 2016, Cassimer Bar, Okanogan County, (0-7-0).

STAL-2013-2, Short-tailed Albatross –21 February 2013 (NO, not established to be in WA waters = 7).

BRBO-2018-2, Brown Booby — 3 March 2018, Diamond Point, Clallam County, (0-7-0).

RHWO-2018-1, Red-headed Woodpecker — 24 May 2018, Bellingham, Whatcom County, (1-4-2).

ALFL-2018-2, Alder Flycatcher — 24 June – 11 July 2018, Bacon Creek, Skagit County, (1-5-1).

BHVI-2018-1, Blue-headed Vireo — 15 April 2018, Frenchman’s Bar, Vancouver, Clark County, (0-4-3).

HORE-2017-2, Hoary Redpoll — 15 December 2017, Sunnyside Park, Pullman, Whitman County, (0-7-0).

MKBU-2017-1, McKay’s Bunting — 20 February 2017, Timentwa Flats, Okanogan County, (0-5-2).

LARB-2018-2, Lark Bunting — 25 August 2018, Millet Pond, Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, (3-4-0).

TBFS-2013-2, “Thick-billed” Fox Sparrow — 26 May 2013, Laurel Rd., wse of Conboy NWR, Klickitat County, (1-6-0).

HOOR-2018-1, Hooded Oriole — 9 June 2018, 45.710860, -120.990742; Fernandez yard, south of Swale Creek off Uecker Road near Warwick, Klickitat County, (1-4-2).

BAWW-2017-4, Black-and-white Warbler — 12 Jun 2017, Nisqually NWR, Thurston County, (3-4-0).

TEWA-2015-6, Tennessee Warbler — 28 May 2015, Beaver Ponds trail, Sun Mountain, Winthrop, Okanogan County, (2-5-0).

TEWA-2018-1, Tennessee Warbler — 4 May 2018, Methow River, between Twisp & Winthrop, Okanogan County, (0-6-1).

PABU-2018-1, Painted Bunting — 6-7 June 2018, Orting, Pierce County, (2-5-0).

TABLED:

RTHU-2017-1, 24-25 October 2017, Ruby-throated Hummingbird — Ridgefield, Clark County, Bob Flores [w, p], (TABLED for further consultation and analysis).

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