Hi Everyone,

A couple of months ago I auctioned myself off for a day's field trip - a couple who are very energetic and interested in birds, though definitely beginners, bought the trip. We started at 6:00 am yesterday (Sunday) morning and went until around 2:00 pm. We picked up 56 species, with some of the highlights shown below.

STILLWATER TRAIL - WALKING LEFT (SE) FROM THE MAIN WDFW PARKING LOT
1.) Red-breasted Sapsucker - several seen, and one nesting cavity found in a snag located just off the trail.
2.) American Bittern - when we first arrived, this bird was giving its highly distinctive 'water dripping in the deep well' vocalization for at least twenty minutes, on the river side of the trail to the left of the parking lot, very close to the parking lot.
3.) YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - The Chat is definitely back at Stillwater this year, as reported in an earlier post. This bird was fairly distant from the trail today, but quite vocal, and I did get one quick look at it before it disappeared from view. My sighting was very close to the same area where it was seen last year - take the trail to the left from the parking lot (SE) and watch for an open 'window' in the brush on the river side of the trail. Looking over the short brush at that spot to the row of taller trees in the field is your best bet.
4.) Bushtit Nest - An active Bushtit nest was found within about twenty feet of the trail, with both parents making constant forays to the nest with food. The sounds and wriggling of the nest suggested a healthy-sized brood within.
5.) Warblers - Good looks at Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat - and the fleeting glance at the Yellow-breasted Chat.
6.) Black-headed Grosbeaks - These birds were everywhere, singing like mad and providing great looks.

ELSEWHERE
7.) PEREGRINE FALCON - all four eyasses and both adults were seen when we visited the location. As noted in an earlier post today, the huge volume of water (unbelievable for this time of year, actually) and relatively cool conditions made viewing marginal - but still worthwhile.
8.) Cinnamon Teal - One male on the pond at Chinook Bend, and several males and females on the old Monroe prison farm (Snohomish County) between Duvall and Monroe
9.) Northern Harrier (NOHA) - Between Sikes Lake and West Snoqualmie Valley Road, a male NOHA was energetically harrassing an immature eagle. I suspect this means a pair of NOHA's is breeding near where this encounter occurred.
10.) Ruddy Duck - Male in full breeding plumage on the prison farm pond.
11.) Western Bluebird - A pair observed near Carnation Farm.

It was a very nice day to be out, and the people who were on the trip were talking about buying a scope by the time I dropped them back off at their house...!

John Tubbs
Snoqualmie, WA
johntubbs at comcast.net
www.tubbsphoto.com