Hi Tweeters,

As I type the trees in my backyard are literally dripping with birds. There
are hundreds of them and it seems as though every Western Red Cedar or Doug
Fir branch has a bird attached. This morning when I first looked outside
(around 0800) there was a Winter Wren hopping about on the porch with one leg
tucked firmly in its belly. A few moments later I noticed a Bewick's Wren against
the bottom of the back door. I'm not sure if it was looking for insects or
trying to capture some of the warmth escaping from the house. The two wrens
proceeded to explore the outdoor porch umbrella's support beams until the
Bewick's chased the Winter Wren off. Both birds hopped around on one foot at
times.
I just came outside again about 45 minutes ago (0920) to Townsend's Warblers
(including one very bright individual), Golden-crowned Kinglets and Bushtits
everywhere! A few American Robins and Crows are about and I just heard a
lone Steller's Jay. As I was watching the mixed flock I also saw a couple
Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Flickers, a Song Sparrow and a few (seemingly)
agitated Dark-eyed Juncos. I'm just waiting for an accipiter to appear. A
few weeks ago we had a pair of Brown Creepers and I looked to the trunks to see
if I could spot them today. A moment later one appeared, flying over my head
and landing on one of the many Doug Firs in our backyard. Just then a
gorgeous male Anna's Hummingbird with a full gorget landed on a sunlit branch on
the cedar tree and kept an eye on me as I watched the Brown Creeper. Last but
not least a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches appeared and checked out one of
the bird boxes. I wonder how many of these birds use nest boxes for roosting
in weather like this. The Red-breasted Nuthatches flew down from the nest box
and one of them tried to land on my head! As I headed inside a flock of Pine
Siskins flew over. I can still hear the Anna's Hummingbirds high in the trees
outside.

Simone Lupson-Cook
Seattle (Maple Leaf), WA
_Zingie at aol.com_ (mailto:Zingie at aol.com)

Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Townsend's Warbler
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Pine Siskin

----------------------
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry,
and narrow-mindedness."
-Mark Twain
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