> From a spot called "Far Country Lookout" I saw a sight that
>piqued my curiosity: fifteen Ravens soaring and playing over the
>mountain. The high number was the first surprise; that's easily
>the largest flock of Ravens I've seen in western Washington and
>perhaps anywhere for that matter. But these birds also seemed to
>be flying Southward. I've never thought of them as migratory so
>wasn't sure if they were just making local movements or truly
>had some warmer, southern climes in mind as they passed over.
> Does anyone have any feelings on this? I know they do
>wander a bit; several years ago there was a Raven in Renton that
>stayed several months. This group seemed too big to be a resident
>family on Cougar Mt. Do any Issaquah Tweeters see large flocks in
>their area?
>
> Jim Flynn
> Renton, WA
> bf519 at scn.org

I've seen larger groups in kettles over the Panorama Point area of Mount
Rainier N. P. in autumn of previous years. Unfortunately, I don't have
details at present, but I recall more than one such group, and probably in
September, perhaps October. I remember assuming they were migrants. This
is more than usually summer in that area. I have also seen ravens moving
southward during hawk watches in the Wellsville Mountains of Utah in
autumn.

Alan Grenon
agrenon at kent.wednet.edu
Seattle