Just to clarify, the rattlesnake I saw was about 3 feet long. It had 8 rattles (or more). It was not an 8 foot rattlesnake.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA


----- Original Message -----
From: Marv Breece
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 9:19 AM
Subject: 06.04.05 Wash birding


Yeterday I visited the burn above Mud Lake in Yakima County. Before the woodpeckering got hot and heavy, I nearly stepped on an 8 rattle snake. It chose to slink away, which made us both very happy.

HAIRY WOODPECKERS seemed to be all over the place. I counted at least 10. WHITE-HEADED were represented by a male and a female. A few loud NORTHERN FLICKERS were about. I counted 4 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS. Saw 2 females and heard 2 more BBWO's.

Most of these birds were about 5 to 5.5 miles up the gravel road off of Hwy 410. This gravel road is located 2 miles west of the intersection of Hwy 410 and 12 in Yakima County.

I meandered back home to Seattle. Made a stop at Weir Prairie. I was delighted to hear several BOBWHITE, calling a single note as well as the full "bobwhite". By this time it was 7:30PM or later. There were also 4 PURPLE MARTINS. I saw a pair when I arrived. Later these 2 gathered with 2 more PUMA's and engaged in an aerial mix up with a pair of TREE SWALLOWS. Was this over a possible nest site? I was surprised how well the swallows managed, since they were outnumbered and outsized. When the scuffle abated, the swallows were perching where they were before the martins arrived on the scene.

It was a good day.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA