I did a bit of hiking around the Leavenworth area today and yesterday.
Weather was unbelievably great, spectacular views of the mountains...it's
worth the Bavarian kitsch (why, Leavenworth, why?) for the scenery.
Yesterday, Feb. 26th, I saw a male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD in with the local
downtown House Sparrows in Leavenworth.

Today I hiked (tried to snowshoe but the snow was too icy) a nice trail at
the end of Icicle RD (turn at the Chevron off HWY 2, follow to the end).
Here on the river I had one singing A. DIPPER, many R/B Nuthatch (I looked
and looked for Pygmys), three CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS and some B/Cappeds. There
was also a Red Squirrel here, the calls sounded just like the Douglas
Squirrels we have in Olympia. As I was leaving two large raptors came over
a ridge very high up, at first I thought they were early Turkey Vultures
because there was some two-toned looks to the underwings, but the shape and
flight moves were wrong. Unfortunately they kept on riding higher on an
updraft, mark it down as eagle sp. (where's the justice?).

At the B&B off Icicle RD I watched a male Downy Woodpecker for a bit, always
nice to see the bright white counterparts to my local dingy Downys.

The views made up for the lack of birdlife, would make an interesting first
stop after coming over Stevens Pass. Lots of burn, from the fires two years
ago (did anyone have luck around here with Black-backeds?).

Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at hotmail.com
Olympia, WA

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