Hi Tweets,



This morning I had at least one, possibly two, American Redstarts while out at Stillwater WMU near Duvall. I first heard one in some willows along the south side of Harris Creek, just upstream of the little wood foot bridge that takes you over the creek. This is by the cut bank that has the bank swallows nesting, with a large sandbar out in the river, if that helps for reference. The layout of this area makes cardinal directions a bit of an interpretation, but from the main/southeasterly parking lot, head over the Snoqualmie Trail directly and just follow that trail down toward the river. About 75 ft away from the river there is another foot trail to the wood bridge. I did not get a visual on this particular individual.



However, I later got a visual on another individual, I assume, a bit later; at another location on Stillwater. This bird was very actively singing, flashing his tail and showing nice orange patches. At one point he was about 10 feet from me on an open branch.



This location is best reached from the smaller parking lot/northwest. Head over the Snoqualmie Trail and follow this path, keeping on the main drag. You'll come to a Y where you can either head left, meeting a nice new metal foot bridge with rails, or go straight - heading down into a low area of a no name creek/draw area. There is a grated foot bridge here as well, but no railings. The bird was in the willow/cottonwood stand on your right (North/Northwest). It was all over that particular edge of the woods, but mostly further through the reed canary field, towards the far end. You'll notice on your right, as you walk through the grass field, some of the vegetation cleared and some stream bed work is occurring. There are noticeable boulders and rock, some flagging. This open area is where I saw the bird first and for the longest, and got the best looks.



Also had a Common Merganser pair with at least 8 very new (within last 2 days) chicks out on the river at the cut bank just to the northwest of the above site. The hen was brooding the young and keeping them hunkered under some overhanging willows and rootwads on the far side of the river, and the male was patrolling. Occasionally, a few of the little ones took a ride on her back. Doh - where's the camera! at # at at # at # Likely this is the same pair I saw out here a bit back, on 5/31 that were loafing quite a bit in the area.



Had a few Mourning Doves, nice looks at a buck and doe, sapsuckers and downys feeding young at nests, as well as many of the other often found species there. Birds were very active, even into the later morning.



Cheers,

Chris Anderson

North Seattle

cdanders AT hotmail DOT com

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