Subject: [Tweeters]: Rattlesnake Lake yesterday (photos)
Date: Jun 1 15:56:39 2008
From: Kevin Mack - kevin_mack at comcast.net


Hi All,



My wife and I visited Rattlesnake Lake and the Cedar River Watershed
Environmental Education Center in North Bend yesterday. As soon as we
stepped out of our car we spotted a Rufous Hummingbird at the top small
cedar. Song Sparrows, towhees and White-crowned Sparrows were also
immediately identified by sight or song. A chorus of frogs could be heard
singing along the stream that runs through the courtyard of the education
center, and a cacophony of bird voices was heard coming from the stand of
trees and shrubs just west of there. We encountered a Cedar Waxwing with a
beak full of nesting material. A Warbling Vireo fed in the branches of the
same tree in which the waxwing was perched. A Black-Headed Grosbeak flew
by, landed, and burst into song. Northern Flickers, Chest-nut Backed and
Black-Capped Chickadees, robins, two more Rufous Hummingbirds, Barn and Tree
Swallows were all seen while standing in one spot. Osprey could be heard
calling over Rattlesnake Lake and Canada Geese could be heard honking as
well. We Made our way around Rattlesnake Lake watching two Ospreys hunting.
We encountered a few sandpipers and saw geese with young in tow. As we
completed the circle and were again nearing the visitor center we saw a pair
of Western Tanagers, a Fox Sparrow and had a close encounter with a Snowshoe
Hare. Finally, as we were leaving we watched a raven picking up the
desiccated pieces of a robin that had clearly been sitting in the parking
lot for some time. The raven carried the bird bits to a nearby tree and
began to feast. All in all, it was a good day!



If you would like to see photos of the Cedar Waxwing, the Osprey, the Rufous
Hummingbird and the hare, look in the "New Photos" gallery here:
http://www.goatislandimages.com/photogalleries.htm



Below is our bird list for the day.



Rattlesnake Lake/Cedar River Watershed Education Center- 05/31/08



Rufous Hummingbird

Black-Capped Chickadee

Chestnut Backed Chickadee

Spotted Towhee

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

American Crow

Warbling Vireo

Black-headed Grosbeak

Barn Swallow

Tree Swallow

Northern Flicker

American Robin

Osprey

Canada Goose

Spotted Sandpiper

Western Tanager

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Common Raven





Kevin Mack

Edmonds, WA

www.goatislandimages.com <http://www.goatislandimages.com/>

kevinmack at goatislandimages.com