Subject: [Tweeters] American Dipper in Issaquah
Date: Jan 29 17:20:59 2008
From: Hugh Jennings - hughbirder at earthlink.net



It was a cold, 33-34 degrees, cloudy day with 1" snow on ground. Only
Sharon Aagaard, she walked 1-1/2 mile to get to P&R, and Mark Crawford showed
up for this Monday morning trip. Most sensible people were avoiding driving the
streets. But, the main streets and highways were okay. The morning turned out
very well with 25 species. Highlights were an American Dipper, Hairy Woodpecker,
Red-breasted Sapsucker and Townsend's Warbler. We started at Sycamore Creek Park
which is located at the south side of Issaquah at the end of Sycamore Creek
Lane. Sycamore Creek enters Issaquah Creek at this park. We were greeted
with a Belted Kingfisher announcing its presence. A Bald Eagle and
Glaucous-winged Gull flew over. There were some Mallards in Issaquah
Creek. We have seen the American Dipper in this area before, but not today. We
heard and saw a Purple Finch and heard House Finch. There were
a few Red-winged Blackbirds, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadees,
Song Sparrow, and Spotted Towhee. After the park area we drove a short
distance on Sycamore Creek Drive to the bridge over Issaquah Creek. There
we found an AMERICAN DIPPER playing, bathing and feeding in the water on
a gravel bar. We watched for several minutes.

>From there we drove south on Issaquah-Hobart Road to SE May Valley Road
and drove west a couple of miles to the entrance to a parking lot for the
Squak Mt. State park. A trail to the west goes a short distance thru a wooded
area, crosses a dirt road where two Varied Thrush were feeding on the
side of the road. The trail reenters the woods thru a wood post entrance
which takes you onto the 1/3 mile Pretzel Tree Trail which has a number of
large signs oriented to teaching children about the forest, the animals and
birds and how to take care of the woods. It is very well done and educational
for adults as well as kids. In this area we added eight new species. Some
Canada Geese were heard, but not seen, flying over. A Hairy Woodpecker
and a Red-breasted Sapsucker were dismantling the bark on some trees. A
Winter Wren was heard. Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Golden-crowned
Kinglets were moving in the fir trees. While looking at them a Townsend's
Warbler showed up. A Winter Wren was heard in the brush. All in all a good
morning of birding despite the weather.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
hughbirder at earthlink dot net