Hi Tweets:
This morning in the cool, cloudy weather, a Common Raven was calling grah, grah, grah up in the field above my house. I had noticed on a walk that the local crows were mostly gone. A nearby crow ignored the raven today. Ravens are quite unusual here. Last year I heard a raven in Des Moines Creek Park on June 17, '09. Did not locate them again last summer, so was unable to confirm if they breed here. I did not hear any this summer until today.
I only saw 6 Barn Swallows today, a small number. The Violet-green Swallows are gone. I still hear a few Purple Finches singing. A gray Purple Finch was singing yesterday up in the field. House Finches and Gold Finches are still around. A Western Wood-Pewee continues to sing in the woods, but I haven't heard the Olive-sided Fly calling or singing for two weeks.
It's pretty quiet here. Guess I should head to Lake Sammamish SP where all the action is.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines
carol.schulz50 at gmail.com