Hi Ho Tweets

I went out to the WDFW Stillwater Preserve in the Snoqualmie Valley this morning. When I got to the area where the snag the WESTERN BLUEBIRDS have been hanging out in (about 10 AM), the male bluebird was perched on an upper limb. After a couple of minutes the female suddenly materialized from the back of the snag. I was able to get to a different angle and see a hole. About this time both birds went elsewhere.

I then continued out to the river and saw a number of Northern Rough-winged Swallows, at least one of which went into a hole in the bank. The river has severly cut into the bank this last winter, and where there used to be considerable sloping material down to the waters edge there is basically a steep drop into the river (still quite high).

After about 10 minutes I walked back to where I could see the bluebird snag and both male and female bluebirds were perched in the tree. Each made sallies out for bugs and came back into the tree. After about 5 minutes the female dropped down out of sight. The male moved over to the eastern side of the tree. After about another 5 minutes the female came back in, perched on a small twig near the top of the snag and then went into the hole in the main, upper part of the snag. Definite signs of setting up housekeeping.

When walking out from the middle "gate" (between the two WDFW access points), follow the "trail" around til you come to a small swale. There is a piece of red flagging on one of the trees. Just before the flagging, you can look across the field about two hundred yards and see the two snags. The bluebirds have been hanging around the rightmost (northern) one of these snags. If you continue on the trail for about 350-400 yards you will get a better view of the snag from about 100 yards. Patience is called for as the birds do move around, and at times are not visible.

It was a good morning.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville, WA
mailto:bellasoc at isomedia.com
Birding & Natural History Guide
425-485-8058
author: Birds of Washington State, Lone Pine Publishing