...Scrub Jay that is. They continue to become more common, bit by bit, in western

Washington. Thursday morning while driving through the Georgetown neighborhood

of Seattle on a pre-work errand I spotted a long-tailed bird fly to the top of a

telephone pole at the Shell station, corner of Corson and Michigan streets. I fantasized

that it could be a Mockingbird and?quikly pulled in to the gas station and walked over

? to look. I saw it just long enough?to realize it?was a Scrub Jay but it dissapeared quickly.

As I waited around a few minutes to see if it would reappear I looked around for an

oak tree. I have found several in Renton to be associated with ornamental oaks, such

? as the ones near Renton Cinemas along Grady Way (near the S-curves of I-405) and

? one frequenting Pin Oaks along 2nd Ave S. and Rainier Ave S. about 5 years ago.



I didn't see any oaks near the gas station phone pole but then I spotted the jay flying

back to the phone pole from the NW (?) direction where there are a lot of oaks planted

as street trees. This is the area in front of the Herfy's Burger place and other businesses

at Corson/Michigan. The jay came back to the pole carrying an acorn which it

proceeded to hammer open for breakfast.



Anywhere you see a good stand of oaks, native or (mostly) otherwise, you might

keep your eyes peeled for Scrub Jays.



good birding,



Jim Flynn

Seattle West