Tweeters,

Went for my neighborhood loop early this morning and how strange it was.
I saw quite a number of birds including my first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
(male) of the year (10 days earlier than usual). I had on a red shirt
and he came right for me, then he scuttled off to a patch of
salmonberries that had just a couple of blossoms coming on. Also saw
both TOWNSENDS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, RED BREASTED SAPSUCKER,
BEWICKS WREN, COMMON RAVEN, BALD EAGLE, RED TAILED HAWK, PILEATED
WOODPECKER, and BROWN CREEPER. There were SONG SPARROWS everywhere, and
a single RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD that is evidently planning to take up
residence at a "dead" stormwater pond (not a stick of vegetation in/on
the margins of the pond). Also all of the usual suspects: DARK EYED
JUNCO, RUBY and GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS, SPOTTED TOWHEES, BUSHTITS,
STELLARS JAY, CROWS, STARLINGS (including one sounding just like a tree
frog), BC and CB CHICKADEES and ROBINS.

While I was walking I heard a terrible animal noise. Sounded like an
injured cat (but big, was it a bobcat?). As I came down the trail I
realized that the noise was just below me, in the creekbed. I scanned
with my bino's and eventually saw a raccoon, partially hidden in the
brush. It's back legs were twitching and it made a terrible screaching
howl. I guessed it was either hit by a car and had drug it self up the
creek or was suffering distemper or rabies. I felt very bad - until on
my last look at the animal I realized it was actually two raccoons, and
.... lets just say that if they were successful in their efforts we'll
have more raccoons to contend with later this year. I laughed and
laughed when I realized what was actually going on.

Also a reality check for the weather, from my home station -

Feb 1, 1998 7 am Temp 59 degrees, Clear skies, SE wind 20 mph
Feb 1, 1989 7 am Temp 4 degrees, Heavy Snow, NE wind 45 mph

Enjoy it while it lasts!!

Good Birding to all,

Rob Conway
Bellevue, WA

robin_conway at hotmail.com

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