Tweets,

After being cooped up forever by the rain I took advantage of our beautiful
Sunday and set out in search of REDPOLLS west of the Cascade crest. After
the report of a medium sized flock in Federal Way I was encouraged. I
focused my search on the "Issaquah Alps" area - that is Tiger, Squak and
Cougar Mountains. Each of these has large tracts of alder forest, some as
big as 300-400 acres. I started just off of Hiway 18 near the Tiger
Mountain summit where I have friends who own several parcels of old clear
cut with a few larger trees.

No REDPOLLS, but boy were there many PINE SISKINS. At least 3 flocks of
200-300, and I think there was a fourth flock, but movement was hard to
track with this many birds. I scanned them for Redpolls, but came up
empty-handed. I had similar luck at Tiger Mountain State Park on the west
slope. One huge 500? flock of SISKINS feeding on alder cones. I left Tiger
disappointed. It is the highest and most easterly of the areas I had
planned to investigate and was sure I would come up with at least a few
REDPOLLS there.

Squak Mountain does not have easy access. I rely on using the residential
streets as high up as I can get and then sneaking up into the woods (bad!).
No REDPOLLS, but I did find about 50 RED CROSSBILLS feeding on Douglas Fir
Cones. There were enough birds in the flock to be able to hear them
cracking cones, kinda cool. Try as I might I couldn't make any of these
guys into WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. A "small" flock (100) of SISKINS was
encounterd further down slope.

I ended my journey in Cougar Mountain State Wildland Park. This is my
territory. I found about 300 SISKINS feeding near Radar Peak, but no
REDPOLLS. I did however hear a GRAY JAY and found a BARRED OWL. I then
moved to the Redtown trailhead and hiked south toward May Valley. I
immediately encounter another large flock of SISKINS accompanied, at last,
by 5 COMMON REDPOLLS. Yes, they are west of the Cascade crest. I continued
my walk and found a NORTHERN GOSHAWK and a PORCUPINE, and at least 6 other
flocks of 100 or more PINE SISKINS, but nothing else interesting.

>From the Issaquah Alps area I'd say this is going to be a banner year for
PINE SISKINS. I've never seen so many in such a small geographical area.
It also looks like we may have a REDPOLL invasion even in the Western
lowlands.

Good Birding to all,

Rob Conway
Bellevue, WA

robin_birder at hotmail.com



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