Subject: [Tweeters] george davis creek, north fork
Date: Nov 12 16:32:55 2006
From: carenp - carenp at totalise.co.uk


i should be studying for my french class, but instead i sit here ogling (and
photographing) my semi-private forest and a few of its inhabitants this
morning, having only yesterday placed the bird feeders where they belong.

and today, the feeders are a riot of activity, led by a large contingent of
steller's jays, a few of which have figured out how to get seed from the
outer feeder. it's quite comical to watch, as they are much larger than the
perch, and the space between the perch and the hole was created for birds
less 1/2 their size. this doesn't stop them from occasionally succeeding in
their quest.

the black-capped chickadees are numerous. barely seconds go by where i
don't see several flying in or out, some of which don't stop at the nearby
trees, but continue onwards maybe 100 metres beyond the closer big-leaf
maples into the safety of evergreen boughs... the occasional
chestnut-backed chickadee also puts in an appearance...

the newest neighbours to introduce themselves are red-breasted: a small
flock of RB nutchatches and two RB sapsuckers. the nutchatches seem to
really like the sunflower seeds, and each flight arrives on a blur of pastel
brilliance.

the feeder doesn't seem to attract the sapsuckers as they find their
nutrition on the deciduous trunks. they are just as beautiful in their own
way...

the eastern greys and the douglas squirrels are all busy feeding, defending
territories, or in one case, curled up tightly on the apex of a nearby roof
looking for all intents and purposes like a gargoyle on a french church.
the grey displays no flicks of the tail, no squeaks, hardly any movement at
all, just a simple 1000-mile stare at the empty air between his rooftop
aerie and the ground two stories below. a few minutes later, the douglas
squirrel that serenades me daily is irritated his favourite
chirping/flicking spot has been taken by a stoic grey statue. every few
minutes, he gets into an excited and one-sided staredown two inches from the
hindquarters of the grey, only to back down by scurrying quickly to the rain
gutters at an unseen slight.

towhees have been spotted, high-contrast juncoes, low-contrast flickers and
crows have been seen, and other woodpeckers of unknown parentage have been
heard... i'm surprised not to have seen finches or house sparrows yet, but
i assume their time will also come one day...

the wind picks up, and the activity dies down a bit, something the rain
failed to accomplish... this french lesson won't learn itself...

new photos for most of the above species available on the website in the
Photos of the Month gallery.

lastly, for those of you still looking for unique gifts, prints, and cards
for the holidays and beyond, my artwork and i will appear in person (and
full living colour) at the east lake washington audubon's "Nature's Holiday
Market" on the 24th and 25th of November. for each sale, ELWAS benefits.
contact myself or ELWAS for more information (www.elwas.org)...

00 caren
http://www.parkgallery.org
george davis creek, north fork

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