Tweets -

Since the snowfall began on the 14th, on most days I've had the good
fortune to have ample time to observe at my place 1/4 mi. west of the
south end of Black Lake (Thurston Co.). The extremes have been
remarkable. Today (see below) was the busiest day; yesterday was the
slowest (2 Steller's Jays). The only resident birds not seen today were
the Brown Creeper and the Red-shafted Flicker pair.

This report was mailed for Doug Canning by http://birdnotes.net

Date: December 30, 2008
Location: Evergreen Shores, Thurston County, Washington

Low temperature: 0 degrees celsius High temperature: 4 degrees celsius
Prevailing wind speed: < 1 km/h gusting to: 6-11 km/h
Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 100%
Precipitation: none

Observing at my place near 75th & Sprucecrest, primarily 0900 to 1230
within the 0730 to 1440 period. Snow melt and sublimination has been
substantial; depth only 4 inches in open areas, ~2X that in shaded
areas. Areas under dense brush cover along the creeks are clear of
snow.

Birds seen (in taxonomic order):

Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) 1
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 3
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 5
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1 [1]
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1 [2]
Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) 3 [3]
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) 2 [4]
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 15
Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) 3
Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) 8

Footnotes:

[1] Male.
[2] Female.
[3] 1 male; 2 females.
[4] 1 male; 1 female.

Total number of species seen: 15

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Douglas Canning
Olympia, Wash
dcanning at zhonka.net
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