I was in the SE corner of Lord Hill Park in Snohomish County (Tester Rd
entrance) early this morning to scout for a field trip (and to get out and
stretch my legs). I came up into the old quarry area from the western side
and saw two redtails, soaring kind of low. Since there is a lot of vole
trails in the grass area this was not surprising. There was enough wind that
one of them just sort of held steady in one spot. I came up over the hill
enough to see into the old quarry pit and there was a coyote, nose down,
working the voles I assumed. The stationary hawk was slightly behind the
coyote and above it maybe 20 feet or so. As the coyote moved in my
direction, the hawk made slight adjustments to its wings and followed. The
second hawk was circling, above and slightly to one side of the coyote. As
the coyote moved, so did the hawks, who I assume were hoping that the mammal
would spook but miss a rodent. Not too long later the coyote caught my
scent, and although I am pretty sure it could not see me, it headed off in
the opposite direction. A nice reward for getting up so early today.

Later with students, coming up the same path a redtail flew overhead low
with a still wriggling garter snake in its talons. Cool views.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer
The Environmental Science School
Snohomish County, WA