Tweets,

Today, as I walked from the Toys R Us parking lot on the west side of Olympia
to the Wild Birds Unlimited store with my daughter I saw a flock of 8 waxwings
in a tree and was instantly charmed. I am not at all used to seeing them
during the winter. I few steps farther and we found 6 more feeding on
red berries in a tree that I wish I knew the name of. They were Cedar
Waxwings, not Bohemians, and I haven't noticed this species on the lists
posted to Tweeters recently so I thought it might be worth mentioning.

I went on to buy a new hanging feeder with a clear plastic roof and screen
where the seed goes. It also has high sides that I hope will resist the
seed-throwing antics of Steller's Jays and others (wishful thinking?).
I also got the cd, "Bird Songs of the Pacific States," a compilation that
comes from the Library of Natural Sound at the Cornell Laboratory
of Ornithology. I think I remember a post to this list which criticized some
recordings on this cd but I have been wanting a cd of western bird songs for
some time and this one seemed to fit what I needed. On first listen, I think
it will be well worth the $20. I can lock in and retain visual images fairly
quickly but when it comes to audio I need regular reinforcement.

Kelly McAllister