A Hybrid Wood-Warbler

While leading a tour in southern Grant County, Oregon today I found this bird which appears to be a MacGillivray's Warbler x Common Yellowthroat hybrid. Its call notes were a bit harsher than MacGillivray's Warbler, but its song was typical for that species. Since songs are learned, this isn't surprising.

The location was along Jack Creek Road east of Bear Valley. This road is the continuation of Scotty Creek Road, not long before it joins up with the paved Izee Highway.

A New Mammal for the Yard List – Arizona Cotton Rat

This cute little rodent was just outside the window I look out from my computer desk the other day. I was home for just 3 days, trying to prepare for the next 6 1/2 weeks of leading tours to Arizona, Oregon, and Alaska, so I certainly didn't expect to get a new mammal for my North-Central Tucson yard list. It's an Arizona Cotton Rat, familiar to many who bird Sweetwater Wetlands. Not very closely related the disdained, mostly nocturnal introduced rats from Eurasia, these natives are mostly diurnal.