WBRC Spring 2023 MEETING RESULTS
Monday, May 01, 2023, the Washington Bird Records Committee met via Zoom for its spring meeting.
Here is a summary of our results:
- 23 reports were accepted as valid new records.
- 2 additional records were accepted as continuing sightings of a record previously accepted at an earlier meeting.
- 16 reports were not accepted.
- 1 additional decision was taken, to re-review and combine as a single record two records previously accepted as separate.
One species was added to the official Washington state list with the discovery of an Eastern Bluebird on 11 November 2022. The state checklist is now 523 species, including 511 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 12 species which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).
Key: Votes in parentheses (# accepted – # not accepted – # abstain)[Notations: p=photo, v = video, a = audio, s = sketch]
ACCEPTED RECORDS:
BESW-2022-3, “Bewick’s” Tundra Swan – 4 December 2022 – 3 January 2023, Moore & Best Rd., Mt. Vernon, Skagit County. Joseph Brown [w, p], Rachel Lawson [w], Sarah Peden [w, p], Jason Zolle [w, p], Gregg Thompson [p] (7-0-0).
WHOS-2023-1, Whooper Swan – 2 January – 5 March 2023, Osceola, King County. Christopher Clark [w, p], Sherry Hagen [w, p], Scott Leavens [w, p], Ken Oeser [w, p], Bob Schmidt [w, p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
ALHU-1856-1, Allen’s Hummingbird – 26 April 1856, Fort Steilacoom, Pierce County. Henshaw and Ridgway (fide Bent) (7-0-0).
COCR-2023-1, Common Crane – 2 January – 12 April 2023, Brady Loop and then Wakefield Rd., Grays Harbor County. Jordan Gunn [w, p], Rachel Hudson [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w], Tina Toth [w, p], Sierra Downes [v], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
LIGU-2022-1, Little Gull – 7-8 November 2022, Potholes Reservoir, Grant County. Mason Maron [w, s], Matthew Yawney [w, p] (7-0-0).
LAGU-2023-1, Laughing Gull — 18 March – 8 April 2023, Tokeland Marina, Tokeland, Pacific County. Note: Observations continued beyond Spring meeting – date range to be updated.
Liam Hutcheson [w], Rowan Young-McMurchie [w, p], Sierra Downes [p], Grace & Ollie Oliver [p] (7-0-0).
SLBG-2023-1, Slaty-backed Gull – 6 March 2023, Vancouver Plaza, Vancouver, Clark County. Andrew Aldrich [w, p], Randy Hill [w, p] (7-0-0).
ARLO-2022-1, Arctic Loon – 28 November 2022, Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, Pierce County. Charlie Wright [w] (6-0-1).
WISP-2003-2, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel – 13 September 2003, 20 miles west of Clatsop Co., OR (but in WA waters), 46.2375, -124.4125, Pacific County. Tim Shelmerdine [w], Tom Snetsinger [w] [fide OBRC, Teresa Herzel, Tim Janzen, Tim Shelmerdine] (7-0-0).
EUSK-2022-1, Eurasian Skylark – 23-28 October 2022, Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Liam Hutcheson [w], Maxine Reid [w, p], Bill Tweit [w], Jordan Gunn [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Jason Vassallo [p], Brad Waggoner [p] (7-0-0).
PHAI-2022-1, Phainopepla – 17 November 2022, Sterling Ct./Blvd. w of White Salmon, Klickitat County. [Samuel Holman] (7-0-0).
EABL-2022-1, Eastern Bluebird – 11 November – 14 December 2022, Leslie Groves Park, Richland, Benton County. Mike & MerryLynn Denny [w, p], Victor Hubbard [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Bill & Nancy LaFramboise [w, p], Christopher Lindsey [w, p, a], Michael Woodruff [w, p, a], Charlotte Byers [p] , Greg Harrington [p], Brad Waggoner [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
BRAM-2022-1, Brambling – 15 November – 4 December 2022, Zander Dr., Bellingham, Whatcom County. Rick Griffin [w, p] (7-0-0).
BRAM-2022-2, Brambling – 9 December 2022 – 18 March 2023, E. 3rd Street, Port Angeles, Clallam County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Nadine Drisseq [p], Greg Harrington [p], Kirsten Tucker [p] (7-0-0).
BRAM-2022-3, Brambling – 20 December 2022, Wa’atch Valley, Makah Tribal Offices, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p], Jacob Miller [w, p] (7-0-0).
BRAM-2022-4, Brambling – 20 December 2022, Neah Bay town, Clallam County. Brad Waggoner [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Jacob Miller [p] (7-0-0).
BRAM-2023-1, Brambling – 2 January – 15 April 2023, Cape Disappointment SP, Pacific County. Ryan Abe [w], Rachel Hudson [w, p], Liam Hutcheson [w], Becky Kent [w, p], Christopher Lindsey [w, p], Tina Toth [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [p, a] (7-0-0).
BRAM-2023-2, Brambling – 6-7 February 2023, Whittier Heights, 11th Ave NW, Seattle, King County. Carl Haynie [w, p], Alec Roseto [w, p], Mark Walton [w, p], Peter Zika [w, p], Pam Cahn [p] (7-0-0).
BRAM-2023-3, Brambling – 6 February 2023, Onella Rd., Olympic Discovery Trail, Ramapo, Clallam County. Sue Nattinger [w] (7-0-0).
OROR-2022-1, Orchard Oriole – 2 October 2022, Wa’adah View Rd., Neah Bay, Clallam County. Louis Kreemer [w, p] (7-0-0).
COGR-2022-6, Common Grackle – 9 October 2022, 239th Place, Ocean Park, Pacific County. Steve Stump [w, p] (7-0-0).
BLBW-2022-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 3 November 2022, Jetty Rd., Neah Bay, Clallam County. Jordan Gunn [w, p] (7-0-0).
BTNW-2022-1, Black-throated Green Warbler – 24 November – 17 December 2022, Riverfront Park, Spokane, Spokane County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Michael Woodruff [w, p, a], Ryan J Merrill [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
Slaty-backed Gull in Eastern Washington: The committee agreed that the October 2022 – March 2023 record of a Slaty-backed Gull in Walla Walla, Benton and Franklin counties (formerly treated as SBGU-2022-2) is best treated as a returning instance of SBGU-2016-1, the prior sighting of this species in the area the previous six winters. The two records are merged and treated as SBGU-2016-1.
Dates and observation info for October 2022 – March 2023 occurrence: Slaty-backed Gull – 18 October 2022 – 7 March 2023, Bateman Island, Richland, Benton County. Victor Hubbard [w, p] (7-0-0).
Hooded Oriole in Pacific County: The committee agreed that the November – December 2022 record of a Hooded Oriole in Bay Center, Pacific County (formerly treated as HOOR-2022-1) is best treated as a returning instance of the same individual seen previous winters at the same feeder since 2020-2021 as HOOR-2020-1.
Dates and observation info for November – December 2022 occurrence: Hooded Oriole – 20 November – 31 December 2022, Bay Center, Pacific County. Ric Creeden [w, p] (7-0-0).
REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
TBMU-2022-2, Thick-billed Murre – 8 September 2022, Port Angeles-Victoria Ferry [US side], Clallam County (0-7-0).
HERG-2022-1, Vega Herring Gull – 27 September 2022, Neah Bay, Clallam County (0-5-2).
SLBG-2022-1, Slaty-backed Gull – 16 September 2022, Ediz Hook, Sequim, Clallam County (0-5-2).
YBSA-1999-1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1 October 1999, Sacajawea SP, Pasco, Franklin County (1-4-2).
YBSA-2023-1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 4 February – 4 March 2023, Walla Walla University, Walla Walla, Walla Walla County (1-5-1).
BRSH-1986-1, Brown Shrike – 3 October 2986, Burrows Road & Hwy 109, Grays Harbor County (0-6-1).
EUSK-2014-1, Eurasian Skylark – 26 October 2014, Wa’atch Valley, Neah Bay, Clallam County (3-4-0).
WREN-2022-1, Wrentit – 12 November 2022 and 28 January 2023, North Jetty, Long Beach, Pacific County (0-5-2).
WAGT-2022-1, wagtail sp. – 21 October 2022, Taidnapam Park, Lewis County (1-4-2).
AMPI-2022-1, Siberian American Pipit (japonicus) – 25 September 2022, Leadbetter Point, Pacific County (1-6-0).
PSJU-2023-1, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco – 13 February 2023, 3309 N 24th St., Tacoma, Pierce County (0-6-1).
PSJU-2023-2, Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco – 17 February 2023, Pioneer Ave., Cashmere, Chelan County (0-7-0).
BAOR-2022-1, Baltimore Oriole – 3 December 2022, Burbank, Walla Walla County (1-5-1).
COGR-2022-5, Common Grackle – 17 May 2022, Tatoosh Island, Clallam County (2-4-1).
PRAW-2023-1, Prairie Warbler – 11 February 2023, Cape Disappointment SP, Pacific County (0-7-0).
INBU-2022-2, Indigo Bunting – 25 May 2022, Steigerwald Lake, NWR, Clark County (2-5-0).
ADDITIONAL DECISION:
The committee decided to combine two Arctic Loon reports from Neah Bay, Clallam County into a single record. Though impossible to know with certainty, the sightings, occurring at the same location and in two consecutive winters, are best treated as a single, returning individual bird.
Dates and observation info for combined occurrences: ARLO-2017-1, Arctic Loon – 17-19 December 2017 (formerly ARLO-2017-1) and 15 December 2018 – 27 January 2019 (formerly ARLO-2018-2), Neah Bay, Clallam County (COMBINE = 6-KEEP SEPARATE = 1).