I did the loop at Spencer Island (North Everett) yesterday or rather
I did what would have been the loop if there were not two breaks in
the dike. What used to be a figure eight loop is now three separate
out and back walks. The highlight of the walk was a GREAT HORNED
OWL sitting on a nest in a large fir tree on the inside of the
impoundment near the NW corner of the erstwhile loop. The owl was
calling (at least four times) from the nest (unless I missed its
mate somwhere else in the tree). This was about 2PM so not even
remotely nocturnal. The tree is about 50 to 75 yards off the dike
trail so I don't think I was disturbing it. Mostly all I could see
were the "horns" sticking out of the nest. Really it is more like
lying on the nest than sitting.
Nothing spectacular but some other highlights were a very obliging
PILEATED WOODPECKER ripping a snag to shreds, and a GARTER SNAKE who
must have been as amazed by the weather as the rest of us. I took
off my coat but I was still too hot. Also there was a RAVEN flying
over I-5 by the Everett sewage ponds. I think this is the first
time I have seen a raven in Snohomish County lowlands.

Jim Elder
2472 Lorentz Pl N
Seattle, WA 98109
delderson at archerserve.com