All this talk about the unusual birds around feeders in the snow. Clarice
and I spent Christmas day on the Skagit-Samish flats wandering around in the
snow. Practically nothing. A few more rough legs than usual, but very few
redtails or even eagles. Not a single snowy owl-- must have all flown south
by Dan's yard. Did see a couple of merlins and one young peregrine on March
Point (but none of the reported snow buntings). Interesting waterfowl
included a flock of barrow's goldeneye and a couple of old squaw at the
Anacortes marina.

Better bird watching at Clarice's father's feeder. Lots of snow in Anacortes
so-- two varied thrushes; as well as lots of juncoes; fox, song, and golden
crowned sparrows; chestnut backed dees; a red breasted nuthatch; a downy
woodpecker; jays; towhees; and shopping nearby were a coopers at one time and
a sharpie at another.

Rushed home to Puyallup on Saturday to beat more snow; on Sunday in the snow
at our feeder was our first Puyallup varied thrush-- never seen nor heard one
in our urban yard before. Also lots of juncoes; a ruby crowned kinglet (on a
suet feeder) flickers (this winter we have had a red, yellow, and hybrid
shafted version, but now only the red); song and golden crowned sparrows;
bushtits (also at the suet) starlings; robins; house finches; towhees; and as
others have noted-- no chickadees.

Today (Monday) the yard list is much different, due to our wonderful weather.
None of the above, but one merlin fly over, several black capped dees; and--
20 mallards, two shovelers, and one bufflehead which was able to make
several three second dives in our back yard (this is after the water level
went down 6 inches). Oh well, now to sweep out the garage.
-------------------------------------
Name: Jerry Broadus
jbroadus at seanet.com
901-16th. St S.W.
Puyallup, Wa. 98371
206-845-3156
12/30/96
15:27:20