Tweeters:

Just a few birds to report in the Marysville-Lake Stevens area here over the
last couple days/weeks:

(1) Com. Merganser--4 flyovers March 4. Only the 2nd encounter at our
place.

(2) Harlan's RT Hawk--single yesterday sitting on cross-bar of power-lines
visible opposite the turnoff for 528 (Marysville) off Hwy 9. Hadn't seen
one there before.

(3) N. Saw-whet Owl--had a remarkable encounter this last Wed, March 14.
At about 5:30 pm, was looking along the ditch that parallels Getchell Hill
Rd (AKA 84th Street NE) for our garbage can, which often gets blown over
after being dumped. As if watching for it also, the owl was in salmonberry
thickets (!) about 3' height. Imagine my amazement as I was as close as
15', watching the bird, as cars whizzed close by at 50-55 mph, one after
another! The bird was so loyal to this one spot that after first study, I
dashed down our entry drive, returned, and actually managed one photo. The
bird had stayed at this most unlikely spot for 10-15 minutes.

(4) VG Swallows--one yesterday (3/18) over the place. Not early. More in
Marysville this morn.

(5) White-throated Sparrow--one heard-only (the distinctive "pink" call
note 2-3 times) in flock of Zonos along n. side of Sunnyside Elementary
School, 3/7.

Otherwise just the usual stuff around; lots of Red Crossbills, more Com.
Ravens than normal, single Hutton's, Townsend's Warbler. The Pacific
Tree-frogs are peaking for sound and count in our north yard, boggy and wet
enough to have inspired breeding as evidenced by 12-15 egg batches. There
is evidence of a skunks near the Getchell Rd this year; last but not least,
our notable insect sighting was a robust Predaceous Diving Beetle that
insisted in bouncing off the family room window repeatedly, for about 10
minutes, one eve last week before I spotted it crawling on the ground, I
watched it fly off subsequently.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

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