Hi Tweets,

I want to start by offering thanks to Linda Phillips for her recent posts about her birding experiences at Wallace Swamp Creek Park! I've lived in Kenmore for over a decade but somehow never knew about this park. Larry and I attempted to find it a few weeks ago using my Thomas Guide. Important Note!: there exist in Kenmore both a "Wallace Swamp Creek Park" and a "Swamp Creek Park", the former (on 73rd Ave. NE approx. 1 mile North of Bothell/Lake City Way) being decidedly more pleasant and easy to visit than the latter (on the South side of Bothell/Lake City Way, essentially a big swamp area behind an apartment complex). We made a second attempt early this afternoon and successfully located Wallace Swamp Creek Park just off 73rd Ave. NE. It is quite a lovely area!

The weather was overcast, windy, and very chilly, and we initially saw nothing but Crows and Chickadees (mostly Black-Capped) and only one human and one dog. We enjoyed wandering the many worn foot paths leading to the creek, and imagining warm sunny weather in which one might actually feel enticed to stick one's toes into the water. Eventually we made our way to the paved path that leads to/from the 68th Ave. NE access point. We crossed the bridge over the river toward 68th Ave., and it was there that we experienced a birder's bonanza!!

We initially stopped on the path to watch a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE chipping away at a hole in an old snag. Suddenly a DOWNEY WOODPECKER swooped in to land on the snag, and both the chickadee and it's mate quickly swarmed it to chase it away. We then heard a kack-kack-kack that we initially misidentified as a Northern Flicker, but soon realized that it was a PILEATED WOODPECKER when the bird landed on another snag nearby and began checking out various holes. We delighted to watch this bird at close range for at least 15 minutes before we decided to move on. Just then I happened to glance to my left and spotted a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER on yet another nearby tree. Again we were able to view this bird for quite a long time. When we tore ourselves away, we continued walking toward 68th Ave. NE and briefly spied a ROFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, as well as another Chickadee popping out of a nesting hole. Later, while walking back to the parking area along the paved path, we spotted female GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and also RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS hopping around in some sort of willow and amongst some other brambles. It was an incredibly peaceful afternoon, with some very exciting (at least for us! :) bird sightings!

We had a little more time available so we made an impromptu stop at an unmarked trail into another swamp area on the East side of 73rd Ave. NE. (It's marked by short posts with white tops spaced evenly and wide enough to allow human passage, but no signage, to the left of a very low-built yellow rambler or manufactured home.) We traipsed through the swamp area and very quickly Larry spotted another RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. Two in one day!! We also saw an immature BALD EAGLE flying overhead. We watched the SAPSUCKER for maybe 20 minutes or more and were able to approach slowly and quietly to get pretty close to the tree it was on. I don't have a very good camera but still I was able to get a few good shots. I'll try to post them somewhere when I get more time.

Thanks again, Linda, for informing the list about the wonderful bird habitat of Wallace Swamp Creek Park in Kenmore! Any new news about the survival of the little hummingbird family? Unfortunately Larry and I did not chance to find the nest that you posted about...

~Christy Jobe
Kenmore, WA
christyrj _ at_ hotmail.com