Hi Tweets,

A great day to get out birding, of course most days are good birding days but this was exceptional. Thanks to Ken and Tina for the Lazuli Bunting information at Three Forks. Other birds of note at Three Forks were: Red-eyed Vireo, Western Wood pewee, many Swainsons only heard, lots of Rufous Hummingbirds.

After Three Forks I decided to stop in Stillwater to see if the Redstarts had returned. I located one male in the same location Gene Hunn reported last year. The water was not as bad as last year but there was quite a bit of mud. The grass was also over 6' high in the cleared area, and there was not much of a trail. The mosquitos are also alive and biting. Rubber boots and mosquito repellent should be included as a part of your birding outfit if your so inclined to visit. Attached are the directions from last year.

In case you don't know the spot, it is about ? mile west of the parking lot
off SR 203 (Fall City- Carnation-Duvall-Monroe highway) opposite Faye Rd.
This is the northern of two State Game parking areas with access to the
Stillwater WRA. It requires a state game parking permit. (Alternatively, one
may park free at the gated track between the two state game parking lots, in
which case you will want to walk north on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail to the
Faye Rd. lot).

Cross west over the Snoqualmie Valley Trail following a truck track across a
field. Where this track bends 90 degrees south, go straight past an isolated
old cherry tree (on your left). Continue straight west to the edge of the
riparian woods, then go left/south on a trail that crosses a small slough on
a metal grate bridge (don't take the first track left/south, however, but
the next). Continue south ca. 100 yards through wet grass between the
cottonwoods and some recently planted native saplings to a noticeable gap in
the cottonwoods on your right/west. Penetrate here to a rip-rap bordered
slough and listen for the redstart. The nest last year was in a thicket of
near vertical branches just above the base of a largish willow on the
opposite bank west northwesterly. Good luck.

I also stopped by the Snohomish River dike Fobes Road access. Looked for Bullocks Orioles, but no luck. Eastern Kingbirds are nesting there again this year.

Photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdhouse_wa/sets/72157626949015756/ ID corrections are welcome.

Good Birding,
Doug Parrott
Edmonds Wa.
bird_cage at msn.com