Two walks this week through my favorite urban second growth forests have
yielded sightings of the brown creeper. Monday I spotted the first in the
greenbelt west and above the Japanese Garden in the Washington Park
Arboretum, today I sighted two in Seward Park, on the walk that lines the
north side of the peninsula. Are creepers year round or winter only residents
of Seattle? Bushtits, ruby crowned kinglets, and wrens were numerous on both
walks, including Bewicks. I also spotted a bird in Seward that I have not yet
been able to identify, at first I thought it was a chickadee because size and
markings were very similar. However, upon closer examination, and the bird
let me have a good look, it resembled more the wren in shape. Black crown,
white eyestripe, black bar beneath that, grayish body. I found it in a large
bush. I will continue to pore over my bird books, ideas are welcome.

Am I frightfully imaginative or does it appear there has been an explosion in
the flicker population in forested areas of Seattle?

Wallis
E. Ward Street, Seattle