VESPER SPARROW

This just in from Ed Swan:

Harsi Parker found a Vesper Sparrow at her place on central Vashon Island this evening.  This is the first record in roughly 30 years.  Back in the 1940’s, Larrison lists them as commonly found on Vashon but there have only been some fall sightings of single birds from sometime in the 1980’s in more recent times.  Extensive habitat change consisting of reforestation of farm, field and shrubby thicket area occurred over the last 70-80 years cutting down on their potential habitat.

Interestingly, Vashon had two breeding pairs of Chipping Sparrows with broods nearby to the Vesper Sparrow sighting this spring, the first recorded breeding, though presumably they bred earlier in the 20^th Century.  Two sets of good observers (Harsi and Ezra and then Susan McClellan) have recently started birding this area of Vashon a lot, perhaps these sightings are remnants of earlier populations that just weren’t noticed until now.

RUBBER BOA

VNC had a report come in of a rubber boa snake found at Glacier on Maury Island last week. Rubber boa’s are rare here and keep to the dry south-facing sunny slopes of Maury. Yes these are constrictors! But they are small 🙂 Last rubber boa sighting at Glacier was in 2001 by Alan Warneke. Last rubber boa sighting at Maury Marine Park was in 2004 by Bianca Perla. So it’s great to know they are still around! Learn more about rubber boas.