Tweets,

I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours walking in Coal Creek
Park (Bellevue) last evening. The creek itself is very low and is only
running below where the north forks join the creek. All swampy areas
along the creek trails are dry. This is the time of year that bears
regularly visit the creek/park seeking one of the last sources of water
around and feeding on apples from the abandonded orchards just to the
south of the park. Bear tracks were evident about 1.2 miles above the
Coal Creek Parkway entrance.

Birdwise the park is much improved over the past couple of weeks -

Cedar Waxwings were very abundant - 100+ birds
Wilsons, BTG, Yellow, Orange Crowned and Townsends Warblers
20 female and 1 male western tanager (on the move?)
2 male wood ducks - mid molt
2 red crossbills
3 brown creepers
flycatchers everywhere (positive Willow, PS, Hammonds, Olive-sided,
Western Wood-pewee) Least???
GH Owl
Barred Owl (heard)
BH Grosbeak juvi
Coopers Hawk
Belted Kingfisher - female
9 California quail
3 Ruffed Grouse
1 Mourning Dove (1st for me at the park)
44 Band Tailed Pigeons
2 Barn Swallows
Hairy, Downey and Pileated Woodpeckers
Northern flicker
Stellers Jay (imitating Red-Tailed Hawk)
Crow
BC and CB Chickadees
RB Nuthatch
Bewicks Wren
50+ Robins
Swainsons Thrush
Song, Fox and WC Sparrows
DE Junco
Spotted Towhee
Huttons Vireo
Hummingbird sp.
American Goldfinch (30)
RW Blackbird
one flock of about 60 Bushtits

also a group of about 10 gulls that I'd say were Ringbilled were
cruising up the canyon along the creek. Saw a porcupine eating apples
and a skunk (another park first) go into a big hole in the creek bank.

48 species - things are looking up!


Rob Conway
Bellevue, WA

robin_conway at hotmail.com


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com