The quiet introspective stroll along the Red TownTrail to Far Country Lookout
on urban Seattle's Cougar Mountain on Christmas morning revealed few birds.
The birds were really the least of things important. Thanks to Rob Conway's
recent postings about Cougar, this until now has resulted in my so belatedly
discovering this fantastic wildernessish area so close to home. A few short
hours at Cougar gives one the feeling of being somewhere in the remote
Cascades and hours away from Seattle's urban noise and hustle and has a most
peacful and therapeutic effect. Each and every moment was precious up there
including each and every one of the few birds scattered here and there.
Nothing exceptional other than perhaps the two Common Redpolls near the crest
at Far Country Lookout.

I very nearly missed the Redpolls. Had I so much as stepped on and snapped a
twig or slipped on a wet leaf at the wrong second, I would have walked right
past them and missed that faint short chitter of a pair feeding on alder
catkins a few away and about 20 feet up. This King County regional park is
loaded with catkin bearing alders that should keep wandering flocks of winter
finches happy and well fed all winter! As there are so many alders, such seed
eating birds could be anywhere; here one moment, gone the next. Recall; that
Rob Conway reported a three Common Redpolls at Cougar Mountain last week.

The list (1000-1300hrs) -- (12 species)
Cooper's Hawk (1)
Hairy Woodpecker (1)
Black-capped Chickadee (6)
Bewick's Wren (1)
Winter Wren (10)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (4)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2)
Varied Thrush (4)
Spotted Towhee (4)
Song Sparrow (14)
Pine Siskin (~200) -- one swirling flock that came and went like an apparition
Common Redpoll (2)

The numerous clumps of cedars scattered all through here look like having
great harboring potential for Saw-whet Owls. Perhaps some of the best looking
and likely habitat in the local Seattle area.

Richard Rowlett (Pagodroma at aol.com)
47.56N, 122.13W
(Seattle/Bellevue, WA USA)