Tweets,

The fresh snow cover (2") on Sunday was more than I could resist. Took
a walk through some of my favorite places to see what was up with the
avian neighbors.

Saw three pretty unusual sights near the Red Town trailhead of Cougar
Mtn. Regional Park. I hadn't even gotten out of the parking lot when I
heard a whistle I knew was completely out of place. Looked up, and
right there in one of the big cottonwoods sat a Grey Jay. He was in the
same place when I returned an hour and a half later. I walked along the
Red Town trailhead to Baseball Meadow and spotted most of the usual
suspects - Juncoes, chickadees, sharpie, red-tail, soaring Bald Eagle,
great horned owl, and two Waxwings (couldn't get a positive ID). Right
before the meadow sitting in a spot of sunshine on top of a bramble
patch were 3 Common Redpolls (my first in Washington State). I sat down
on the small footbridge that crosses Coal Creek at Baseball Meadow and
was treated to the antics of an American Dipper flying up and down the
creek and foraging. I've seen dippers lower on the creek, but never on
this stretch.

I didn't realize that Long Eared Owls were unusual in Western Washington
(I've only recently taken up birding here after a 20+ year hiatus from
birding in California). I can confirm that the Long Eared in the South
Lake Sammamish location has been there for at least 6 weeks - I saw
him/her on November 8 at that location.

I also solved a baffling mystery at my bird feeders. I've been feeding
black oil out of a small cheapy plastic "pergola" feeder that is hung
where the resident grey squirrels can't (haven't yet!) get at it. I
have birds feeding there all day, every day, mostly chestnut backed
chickadees and red breasted nuthatch - but I was going through an
ungodly amount of food. I filled the feeder on Friday evening and when
I got up at 7:00 on Saturday it was substantially lower. Obviously I
had a nocturnal visitor - I was sure it was rats. Last night I happened
to think about the situation and went to the window with a flashlight -
sure enough, I had a visitor - sitting there was a flying squirrel
munching happily away. We'll see how long he lasts, I've been hearing a
Great Horned Owl regularly.

Good Birding to All

Rob Conway
Cougar Mtn - Bellevue, WA

robin_conway at hotmail.com



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