Hi everyone,



I led a morning field trip for Seattle Audubon today for a group of seven brave folks who came out despite temps in the 30's to start, and threatening skies (and a snow level halfway down the west face of Mount Si).? The trip started on a good note, as we saw a first-of-the-year (for most of the folks on the trip) Osprey fly into the nest on the light standard near the Tibbetts Park and Ride meeting point.? Three Forks was cold, damp and slow to start but we eventually saw a reasonable number of species, including multiple Rufous Hummingbird males and?a first-of-the-year Orange-Crowned Warbler.? Following Three Forks, we worked our way over to Snoqualmie Falls to check out the incubating Peregrine Falcon (much to the delight of a family of visitors to the Falls, who got to see the bird through our scope) and then down to Tokul Creek to be entertained by cooperative American Dippers, including some singing, and a beautiful male Pileated Woodpecker right by Fish Hatchery Road at eye level.? Our last stop?was the western?pastures of the horse ranch in Fall?City (at the intersection of 308th and Highway 202/Fall City-Redmond Road).? These fields had flooded sections from the recent rains and contained a nice variety of ducks for a small temporary 'pond' - American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler,?a lone Common Goldeneye, Mallard, and?Hooded Merganser.?



?Despite the marginal weather, a good time was had by all.



John Tubbs

Snoqualmie, WA

johntubbs at comcast.net

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