Clear DayIt's been interesting to read the different birds sighted in the area. We are lucky to live up on Squak Mt. in Issaquah at about 1500 ft. & have varied thrush here most of the year (6 to 8 regularly). They sometimes disappear during the summer months when they are nesting, but it is not unusual for them to feed early in the morning even then (our yard which backs up to the state park). We sometimes see the males feeding along the road coming up to our house, even during the summer months. Their numbers increase during the winter months, especially when there is snow on the ground - we've seen as many as 20 in very bad weather. This year we have had 4 to 6 here every morning. My suspicion is that the mild weather this year has kept them up at higher elevations than usual.

We participate in Project Feederwatch each year, & so far it's been a very dull year. Just the usual chickadees, juncos, varied thrush & towhees. One female hairy woodpecker enjoys the suet feeder, & once in a while a pileated woodpecker will come in to eat a little suet. Our stellar's jay clan has moved on, but keeps a scout in the area in case we put out stale bread. Usually we have nuthatch, sparrows, finches, hermit thrush, flickers, & pine siskins fairly regularly, but this year has been very quiet.

We hear barred owls from time to time - one perched in the cherry tree outside our bedroom window one night & called for quite a while before moving on. They are probably nesting now.

Looking forward to the return of summer birds.

Karin Baumgardner
Issaquah, WA

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