Hi everyone,



At about 2:15 this afternoon, Trisha and I took the dog to the off-leash area at Three Forks Natural Area between Snoqualmie and North Bend.? Fortunately we always also take binocs even if it isn't a birding trip per se.? Because...we found a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (LEWO) actively and conspicuously hawking insects between two large snag trees.?



Information on Three Forks Natural Area can be found on King County's website for those not familiar with it.? From the small gravel parking area off Park Street near Centennial Fields in Snoqualmie, which is the entrance to the off-leash dog area, the LEWO was almost directly across the large open field from the information sign.? One of the two snag trees is quite visible from the sign.? The trees in question are next to the second bridge in from the Mount Si Golf Course trailhead, in a marshy area.? Hopefully for those wanting to chase a LEWO for their King County list it will still be around tomorrow morning since it was fairly late in the afternoon that we saw it...but of course in migration it's anybody's guess.?



For those newer to birding, LEWO is rare west of the mountains in spring and fall migration.? My LEWO karma has been good lately - last year I saw two in fall migration.? One was in Marymoor Park during a weekly group walk when I subbed as leader for MaryFrances Mathis, and the second was in a marshy area in the Cedar River watershed on a monthly bird survey that I conduct for a City of Seattle wildlife biologist.?



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net