Tweets -

Yesterday we were out and about on the east side of Moscow. This area of the
Palouse grades gradually into the foothills and consists of iterspersed
field/pasture land, Ponderosa Pine/Douglas Fir stands, and hawthorne scrub.
With the help of fellow tweeter John Miller we found a good number of
Western Bluebirds on the south flank of Moscow Moubtain in this kind of
habitat. Having just recently moved from the midwest (and only having seen
W. Bluebird once previously) we were really stunned by these guys. Arguably
the most stunning of the 3 bluebird species with its deep violet blue back -
much deeper colors than its eastern cohort.

Also found on our tramp were a number of screeching Red-tails, a couple of
elusive Gray Partridge, all 3 chickadee sp., Pygmy Nuts., a winter Wren
testing its syrinx (as birds don't have vocal chords), and W. Meadowlark
nicely perched atop a telephone pole.

Song Sparrows are much more conspicous in town and singing from most brushy
drainage ditches. Have had a few Killdeer around and in our east Moscow
backyard this past week a Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, the usual siskins &
juncos, and just today a Downy Woodpecker (fairly uncommon in town here).
Have also had Bohemian Waxwing and Rough-legged hawk in the past week but
don't suppose they'll be around much longer.

Greatly enjoying this early spring weather (as are the flowers in our yard)!

Charles.
^__^ ========================
(0 0) Charles E. Swift
| \/ | charless at umich.edu
\ / Moscow, Idaho
\/ I'm for the birds!
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