Hi Tweeters,

I hope you all enjoyed this (almost) spring day as much as I did.

I started my day with an early morning walk around Wallace Swamp Creek Park.

It was extremely birdy. The early threats of rain did not materialize and I had a great time.

I added #86 to my Park list, Common Raven. I heard an unfamiliar sound and looked up to see a BIG black bird flying my way croaking as he flew overhead.

When I was checking the edges of the meadow I heard the KLEER call of a flicker. I started to scan the trees to see him when into my view flew a Wilson's Snipe, forget the flicker; I followed the snipe until it was out of sight. Until today I had a theory that snipe only visited the park during freezing conditions. Previously I have seen them only 3 times 2 days during the cold snap in November and again during the snow in January.

Now I think they may be hanging out in the swampy area south of the paved trail.

At 10:30 I went home, I had seen or heard 26 species. By 2 in the afternoon the sunshine was beckoning to me again and I walked my park loop again, hoping to get to 30 species

In the creek I found Mallards, Hooded Mergansers and 2 pairs of Gadwalls, Gadwalls were added to my park list in December when Jan Bragg reported seeing them but this was the first time I had seen them myself.

A few minutes later I watched a red-tailed hawk soar overhead.

Further down the trail I heard chatter in the treetops and looked up to see who was there. I found both Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees and a male Townsend's Warbler. The first time I've seen a Townsend's in a deciduous tree.

Suddenly the sky grew dark and heavy raindrops began to fall. Other park users scurried to their cars but since I had walked over I figured I'd be soaked even if I hurried home so I decided to take my time and try to find a few more species. Thankfully the rain stopped as quickly as it had started and I was rewarded with great views of a complete rainbow. While I was admiring the rainbow, a juvenile Cooper's hawk flew in and perched on the top of a snag for me.

It was about this time last year that a pair of barred owls began nesting in the park so I have been watching for them. Yesterday I noticed whitewash on the ground under one of the trees that the male liked to roost in. I couldn't tell if it was new or old (I think last years would have washed away with the rain) so I pulled all the vines under the tree aside so I will be able to identify any new whitewash. I checked it today and the ground was bare.

I followed the creek downstream and found an American Dipper. He was singing. Part of his song was something I had never heard before, it was very interesting.

It was a good day for woodpeckers, I saw several flickers, two each Hairy and Downy and one Red-breasted Sapsucker. If I could have found a Pileated I would have had a perfect 5-woodpecker day but search as I may they were not to be found.

As I watched the crows flying toward their evening roost I noticed one flying in the opposite direction, on closer inspection I found out it was an adult accipiter, another Cooper's according to the rule that Sharp-shined hawks flap their wing so fast that you can't count the wing beats. I was surprised that the crows weren't paying any attention to the hawk. They must have been so intent on heading for the roost that they couldn't take the time to harass a hawk.

When I did my final tally I had 35 species for the day and 7 of them were new for February. I love spring!

Linda Phillips

linda_phillips1252 at msn.com<mailto:linda_phillips1252 at msn.com>

Kenmore, 98028-2616