Hi Tweeters,

I was observing a Flycatcher this afternoon when another Flycatcher seemed to get into a small battle with the first one in mid air. So intrigued I watched them for another 30 minutes or so. They were in and out of the cedar tree, and lilac bush, sometimes sitting as high as the top of the fence post. the sprinkler was on and the Chickadees, song sparrows along with the nuthatches were enjoying the water. The Flycatchers were both the same size, one was considerably darker then the other, a gray brown color, with definite wing bars, the other was light colored with a white throat and almost bars of color going down its chest, though no definite wing bars, neither had eye rings. I was waiting to see more mid flight fighting when they landed side by side on a branch propped on the ground and the dark bird reached out and handed the lighter bird a large bug. Guess they knew each other. I never heard them call but just the sound of the squabbling. both had lower bills that were yellow/orange and the same color inside their mouths as it was hot and they had their mouths open a few times. Not as exciting as the Eider, but was good for me.

Yesterday at the Cedar River/Rattlesnake lake Education Ctr the drawing group of Julie Myers and the Seattle Audubon got a great show of Osprey, Willow Flycatcher, Chickadees, White Crowned Sparrow, Cedar Waxwings, Towhees, and the best show was two crows, one younger then the other grooming on a snag branch. The older of the two birds had a white or silver band on both legs. So if you know the guy that bands crows, could you let him know?

Dawn Bailey
Eatonville, WA
mailto:dawnsdog at rainierconnect.com

You do not need to leave your room...
Remain sitting at your table and listen.
Do not even listen, simply wait.
Do not even wait, be quite still and solitary.
The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked.
It has no choice. It will roll in ecstasy at your feet."
~~ Franz Kafka