Hi Tweeters,

Carol Riddell's post regarding the American Three-toed Woodpecker at Washington Pass has inspired me to write my first post here. Two years ago my husband and I hiked Rainy Pass, a beautiful area. We walked and walked and heard many birds but were unable to see them as they were way up in the treetops and underbrush. Finally I decided to turn back because I had hoped for some photo ops of birds and there were none that day, this was around 5:00PM. When we got back to the car we were greeted by a small family of friendly Gray Jays, Varied Thrush and Hairy Woodpeckers. This made me smile because they were the first birds I'd actually seen all day, save for a few Rufous Hummingbirds. The parking lot was actually quite noisy with hungry birds, then all of a sudden a female American Three-toed Woodpecker plopped down in the middle of the pack, about 10 feet from me and my camera! I will never forget that day as she was a lifer bird for me (even though I nearly had a heart attack from all the excitement) Here's a link to the record shot of her: http://www.pbase.com/downywp/image/100775153. And thanks to all who post their great birding adventures on this site!

Ruth Mano
Everett WA
http://www.pbase.com/downywp


>
> Message: 15
> Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:29:21 -0700
> From: Carol Riddell <cariddell at earthlink.net>
> Subject: [Tweeters] Washington Pass Three-toed Woodpecker
> To: Tweeters <Tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Message-ID: <34AECB47-9775-4A5A-AE7D-38780A2F6B45 at earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Yesterday afternoon (Sunday 6-27-10), Ruth Sullivan and I pulled into
> the very crowded area outside the still-locked gate at the Washington
> Pass rest area on Highway 20. It was around 1 p.m. and time for a
> tailgate lunch. We set up our chairs and juggled sandwiches and
> beverages while we watched the Gray Jays, Clark's Nutcrackers, and
> Steller's Jays. With mouths full of food and hands full of
> sandwiches, we noticed a small woodpecker fly onto a snag. I jumped
> up, nearly spilling my lunch, and rummaged for the binoculars. The
> woodpecker continued until I was able to get on it and confirm that
> it was a female Three-toed Woodpecker. She then flew off over the
> meadow. And I think about all the years I went in search vainly.
> Here was my third without even trying. I returned over the North
> Cascades Highway this afternoon (Monday 6-28-10) and did not see it
> again.
>
> Carol Riddell
> Edmonds
>
>
*****************

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