Tweeters,

After I finished weed-wackin' just before noon, I heard chickadees,
nuthatches, juncos, Bewick's Wrens, and Willow Flycatchers sounding off in
the Christmas-tree-farm-remnant noble firs just to the north of our house in
Roy. I found a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL (NOPO) clutching the remains of a songbird
(half-eaten with only the bottom half left), and with a host of harassers
nearby. The NOPO appeared to be a bird-of-the-year with very indistinct
spots and "eyes" on the back. (The bird may still be out there because the
flycatchers, juncos, and finches are sounding off in a different, but nearby
area.)



The WESTERN BLUEBIRDS that deserted the property may (according to a
neighbor) have nested nearby. Yesterday, a juvenile bluebird was in the herb
garden out back, and a male bluebird was feeding it. They stuck around for a
bit, then flew west.



The two families of CALIFORNIA QUAIL have joined up to make one foraging
covey at times, but then they separate after a bit. The older chicks (10
young remain) are about 3-4 weeks older than the younger chicks (11 still
with us), with a noticeable size difference still. There may yet be another
pair of quail nesting nearby.



The second batch of TREE SWALLOWS in four nestboxes are definitely getting
bigger - and a couple sets of those chicks may fledge soon. Once the cool,
damp weather left, nearly every one of the 12 boxes fledged young.



Two Turkey Vultures were flying over the wetland yesterday.



That's all for now..



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com