WBRC Spring 2024 MEETING RESULTS
On Monday, May 13, 2024, the Washington Bird Records Committee met via Zoom for its spring meeting.
Here is a summary of our results:
- 38 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.
- 9 reports were not accepted.
Two species were added to the official Washington state list with the discovery of a Cassin’s Sparrow on 7 October 2023 and a Song Thrush on 12 January 2024. The state checklist is now 525 species, including 513 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:
WHOS-2024-1, Whooper Swan – 14 February – 17 March 2024, Allen West Rd., Samish Flats, Skagit County. Ethan Aron [p], Breyden Beeke [p], Dave Beeke [p], Sierra Downes [p], Louis Kreemer [p], David Poortinga [p], Cordia Sammeth [p], Ellen Stepniewski [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: 2 birds.
KIEI-2023-1, King Eider – 10 October – 7 November 2023, Tokeland, Pacific County. Teresa Descher [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [p] (7-0-0).
SLBG-2023-3, Slaty-backed Gull – 10 August 2023, Bird Rocks, 48.4839586, -122.810948, San Juan County. Amanda Colbert [w, p] (6-1-0).
SLBG-2024-1, Slaty-backed Gull – 8 – 12 March 2024, Woodland Bottoms, Cowlitz County and Marine Park, Vancouver, Clark County. Cowlitz: Louis Kreemer [w, p], Clark: Les Carlson [w], Jim Danzenbaker [w] (7-0-0). NOTE: The WBRC voted to consider the two sightings most likely to be of the same individual bird.
NABO-2023-1, Nazca Booby – 30 September 2023, Off-shore Westport Pelagic, Grays Harbor County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Ryan J Merrill [p] (7-0-0).
NABO-2023-2, Nazca Booby – 1-7 October 2023, Joemma Beach SP, McNeil St. Trail, Nisqually Reach Pierce County, and Luhr Beach, Billy Jay Frank Nisqually NWR, Thurston County. Jordan Gunn [p], Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Mark Alan Iantosca [p], Marcus Roening [p], Jason Zolle [w] (7-0-0).
NABO-2024-1, Nazca Booby – 6 February 2024, Dickman Mill Park, Tacoma, Pierce County. Peter Wimberger [p] (7-0-0). NOTE: Found dead.
RFBO-2023-1, Red-footed Booby – 25 September 2023, 48.276837, -123.014733, Strait of Juan de Fuca between San Juan Island national historic park and Dungeness., Clallam County. Marilyn Duncan [w, p], Maya Kurkhill [w, p, v] (7-0-0). NOTE: The WBRC voted to consider the two sightings more likely to be separate individuals (6-1-0).
RFBO-2023-2, Red-footed Booby – 11 October 2023, East Elwha Beach, Clallam County. Linda Campbell [w, p] (7-0-0). Found dead. NOTE: The WBRC voted to consider the two sightings more likely to be separate individuals (6-1-0).
YBSA-2023-2, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 18 November – 19 December 2023, 10th and Montgomery, Mount Vernon, Skagit County. Joel Brady-Power [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], David Poortinga [p] (7-0-0).
YBSA-2024-1, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 4 – 7 January 2024, Olympic Discovery Trail, Port Angeles, Clallam County. Michael Barry [w], Roger Hoffman [w, p] (7-0-0).
STFL-2023-2, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – 25 October – 27 November 2023, Tokeland, Pacific County. Tasha Dimarzio [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Christopher Lindsey [w, p] (7-0-0).
PIJA-2023-1, Pinyon Jay – 8 October 2023, Olympia, Thurston County. Michelle Napoleon [w, p] (7-0-0).
EUSK-2023-1, Eurasian Skylark – 28 November 2023, Vancouver lowlands, Clark County. Cindy McCormack [w, a] (7-0-0).
WIWR-2023-1, Winter Wren – 25 November 2023 – 7 January 2024, Barnaby Slough, Skagit County. Ryan Merrill [w, a, p] (7-0-0).
SOTH-2024-1, Song Thrush – 12 January 2024, West Port Angeles, Clallam County. Scott Gremel [w, p] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record/
WHWA-2024-1, White Wagtail (M.a. ocularis) – 12 March 2024, Port Susan Bay TNC reserve, Snohomish County. Richard Andrews [w, p, v] (Species ID: 7-0-0, Subspecies ID: ocularis = 7 votes).
LIBU-2023-1, Little Bunting – 27 October 2023, Hobuck Beach, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Liam Hucheson [w, p], Alex Meilleur [p], Maxine Reid [p], Jason Vassallo [p] (7-0-0).
CASP-2023-1, Cassin’s Sparrow – 7 October 2023, Waadah Heights Rd., Neah Bay, Clallam County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Jason Zolle [w] (7-0-0). NOTE: State first record.
OROR-2023-1, Orchard Oriole – 29 September – 14 October 2023, Neah Bay, Ba’adah Village Loop, Clallam County. Liam Hutcheson [p], Alex Meilleur [p], Ryan J Merrill [p], Maxine Reid [p], Lin Stern [p], Jason Vassallo [p] (7-0-0).
OROR-2023-4, Orchard Oriole – 21 October 2023, Neah Bay [town], Clallam County. Randy Dzenkiw [p], Jordan Gunn [p] (7-0-0).
OROR-2023-5, Orchard Oriole – 10 November 2023, Neah Bay [jetty], Clallam County. Ryan J Merrill [p] (7-0-0).
HOOR-2024-1, Hooded Oriole – 20 March 2024, Kelly Ct., Lacey, Thurston County. Gretchen Williams [w, p] (7-0-0).
BAOR-2023-1, Baltimore Oriole – 30 September 2023, Education Hill, n of Marymoor Park, Redmond, King County. Ken Warnecke [w, p] (7-0-0).
COGR-2023-3, Common Grackle – 7 May 2023, Grayland, Grays Harbor County. Chelsea Stewart [w, p, v] (7-0-0).
GTGR-2023-1, Great-tailed Grackle – 12 November 2023 – 11 April 2024, Moses Lake Shopping Mall Audubon Kiosk, Grant County. Margaret Heming [p], Liam Hutcheson [p], Becky Kent [p], Maxine Reid [p], Darchelle Worley [p] (7-0-0).
HOWA-2023-1, Hooded Warbler – 7 – 25 November 2023, E 26th Ave., Spokane Valley, Spokane County. Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Andrew Thomas [w, p], Michael Woodruff [w, p] (7-0-0).
HOWA-2023-2, Hooded Warbler – 10 November 2023 – 1 January 2024, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Andy DeBroux [p], Jordan Gunn [p], Steve Hampton [p], Liam Hutcheson [p, a], Chris Jay [p], Ryan J Merrill [p] (7-0-0).
MAWA-2023-2, Magnolia Warbler – 11 June 2023, Cle Elum, Kittitas County. Nicholas Hamill [w, p, a] (7-0-0).
BTBW-2023-1, Black-throated Blue Warbler – 16 November 2023 – 10 January 2024, North Anna J Drive, Spokane, Spokane County. Victor Hubbard [w, p], Andrew Thomas [w, p], Michael Woodruff [w, p] (7-0-0).
SUTA-2023-1, Summer Tanager – 25 November 2023, NW 96th St., Seattle, King County. Eric Running [w, p] (7-0-0).
BLGR-2023-1, Blue Grosbeak – 18 October 2023, Hansville, Kitsap County. George Gerdts [w, p], Mary Anne Rossing [w] (7-0-0).
INBU-2023-4, Indigo Bunting – 14 – 20 October 2023, The Village RV Parking Lot, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [p] (7-0-0).
INBU-2024-1, Indigo Bunting – 2 February 2024, Lower Elwha Rd., Port Angeles, Clallam County. Stephanie Kinnaman [w, p] (7-0-0).
PABU-2023-1, Painted Bunting – 29 September 2023, Cape Disappointment SP, Pacific County. Liam Hutcheson [w, p], Ryan J Merrill [w, p] (7-0-0).
PABU-2023-2, Painted Bunting – 21 – 22 October 2023, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Joshua Galpern [p], Jordan Gunn [p], Christian Hagenlocher [p] (7-0-0).
PABU-2023-3, Painted Bunting – 24-29 October 2023, Seattle, King County. Jane Hadley [w, p], Hank & Karen Heiberg [p, v], Ryan Merrill [p], Randy Robinson [w, p] (7-0-0).
DICK-2023-1, Dickcissel – 16 October 2023, Neah Bay, Clallam County. Brad Waggoner [p], Kevin Waggoner [p] (7-0-0).
RECORDS ACCEPTED AS CONTINUING SIGHTINGS OF PREVIOUSLY-ACCEPTED RECORDS:
Slaty-backed Gull in Eastern Washington: The committee agreed that the November 2023 – February 2024 record of a Slaty-backed Gull in Benton and Franklin counties (formerly treated as SBGU-2023-4) is best treated as a returning instance of SBGU-2016-1, the prior sighting of this species in the area the previous seven winters. The two records are merged and treated as SBGU-2016-1.
Dates and observation info for November 2023 – February 2024 occurrence: Slaty-backed Gull – 11 November 2023 – 17 February, Chiawana Park and Carpet Island, Pasco, Franklin County and Columbia Park Marina and Bateman Island, Benton County Phil Bartley [p], Elke Davis [p], Rowan Young-McMurchie [p] (7-0-0).
REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED:
COHU-2024-1, Costa’s Hummingbird – 21 – 23 March 2024, Meadowlark Lane, Moxee, Yakima County (1-6-0).
MASA-2023-1, Marsh Sandpiper – 22 September 2023, Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County (0-5-2).
TBMU-2024-1, Thick-billed Murre – 13 January 2024, Point No Point, Hansville, Kitsap County (0-7-0).
BHGU-2024-1, Black-headed Gull – 24 January 2024, Edmonds Pier, Edmonds, Snohomish County (0-7-0).
HERG-2023-1, Vega Herring Gull – 5 November 2023, Wenzel Slough Rd., Satsop, Grays Harbor County (0-5-2).
WTSH-2023-1, Wedge-tailed Shearwater – 24 September 2023, ~ 35 miles off shore, 46 deg, 29’ 26.946 N, 125 deg, 16’ 14.538 W, Pacific County (2-5-0).
GRAH-2024-1, Gray Heron – 29 January 2024, Port Ludlow Yacht Club, Port Ludlow, Jefferson County (0-7-0).
BLBW-2024-1, Blackburnian Warbler – 27 January 2024, Normandy Park, King County (0-7-0).
DICK-2016-4, Dickcissel (2) – 7 September 2016, Wylie Slough, Skagit County (0-7-0).