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Very productive tour of eastern King Co. today!? Netted two buntings (the popular and cooperative Indigo and several Lazulis at 3 Forks,) and four Empidonax flycatchers!? The continuing very-vocal-but-nearly-impossible-to-see Least was "chebek"ing furiously just past the stream crossing at the northwest corner of the meadow at 3 Forks.? From the stream, it was possible to hear both the flycatcher and the bunting singing simultaneously.? About halfway back to the Snoq. Valley Trail from there, a Hammond's Fly sang from some hidden perch in the understory, sounding like a doped-up version of the Least.? At Stillwater, just where the trail to the famous redstart site enters the woods--and where the mosquitos get truly ferocious, was a calling Pac-slope Flycatcher.? Willow Flycatchers were as thick as the mosquitos everywhere.? One other flycatcher of special note turned up at Stillwater:? an EASTERN KINGBIRD in a dead tree visible from the first
fork in the meadow trail.? Along with several Western Wood-pewees, that made for a not-too-shabby 6-flycatcher day in King County.?
Having missed the end of spring migration, due to moving, it was great fun to have some tasty birds around to chase today!? Thanks to all whose directions to the American Redstart, both verbal and posted, eventually got me to that gorgeous bird!
Jeff Bryant
Seattle
jbryant_68 AT yahoo DOT com