Hi Tweeters,

I live in the Renton East Highlands about a mile outside the city limits. I'm a very novice bird observer. I wanted to report that the Pileated Woodpecker that has been coming to my suet feeder off and on all winter seems to not be alone any more. It has thrilled me to look out and see 'him' all winter. Sunday morning I heard him (I say him, but can't tell) calling to another. This is the first time I have seen more than one at a time, though only one came down into the yard for serveral years.

About 6 years ago after a builder cleared land to build a neighborhood of housing a mile down the road, a mature pair came into the yard for a visit and moved on.

The same morning I had a pair of House Finch and a Spotted Towhee come into the hanging dish feeder I have on the covered porch off our bedroom (back of my house). They seldom come that close to the house. Every morning I have Steller Jays, Chickadees, Nuthatchs and Oregon Juncos up close and further out at the suet feeder I have Flickers and not as often Hairy and Downy woodpeckers. Always a variety of sparrows that include Fox and Song gather below my porch and Cedar tree for seed I toss onto the ground.

I am disabled and don't venture out into the yard or forest, but what a thrill it is for me to sit on my back porch every morning to drink coffee and observe them. I even have one Steller Jay that makes the sound of a Hawk before it drops down to pick out a peanut from the ground.

After seeing the posting of the mystery birds, I put some photos of a bird or two into my Flickr album. I was hoping someone could identify them for me. If you search "Nancy Mystery Bird" in flickr.com you will find them. Wow! there were a lot of Mystery bird, so I went back and put my name in front of mine (use the quotes around it and you'll just get my 3).

Nancy Day
E. Renton Highlands, WA
sday13 at comcast.net