Hi Tweets:
Des Moines had migrating hawks today. There has been a lot of hawk movement and odd raptor calls the last few days. This morning in the warmth at 10:45, I was out in back of Wesley Terrace nursing home, listening to a lot of bird song from Ruby-crnd. Kinglets, Brown Creepers, and Varied Thrushes. I watched a couple of Red-breasted Sapsuckers calling, chasing each other, and drumming. I've been hearing Red-tailed Hawks around here calling various versions of "cherp" the past few days. Two beautiful dark-morph Redtails look like they may make a nest over near Des Moines Creek. They were flying by and soaring together, with the male hanging his legs down at times. One flew by w/ nesting material. As I was watching them, I saw two Cooper's Hawks doing the classic migration flight as they headed north. They were down over the Des Moines waterfront next to Puget Sound soaring in circles near each other, going up and up and then disappearing. A little later I saw them doing the same thing a little farther north. Yesterday a Bald Eagle adult, and a Bald Eagle juvenile flew by up near hwy 99. They looked like they were moving through. Red-tailed Hawks have been soaring over our area too.
Yesterday in the warmth at about 10:30 I was up on 18th listening to birds singing. I heard 2 and maybe 3 different Hutton's Vireos singing their repetitive songs for a long time. Ruby-crowned Kinglets have been singing everywhere since Mar 18. The Purple Finches in our neighborhood, in Des Moines Creek Park, and up on 18th are back and singing away. The males and females are looking bright and crisp. Yesterday in the woods, I watched a male finch singing, a female followed him, and then he followed her. The Purple Finches started returning in early Feb, but there are still no Goldfinches. There are no Band-tailed Pigeons either. We've always had winter Amer. Goldfinch, and winter Band-tails but not this winter. I hope they return. Where are they?
In the town of Des Moines, I'm continuing to hear singing pugetensis Wht-crowned Sparrows. First heard their song here on March 3. Black-capped Chickadees are singing a five-syllable song now. Sounds like pee-didee-didee. They are investigating small cavities in little trees and branches. Woodpeckers are definitely active, and I have seen or heard Downy, Hairy, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-b Sapsuckers, and Flickers in the past few days in the lowlands here. I don't usually see all that many. I hadn't seen a Red-breasted Sapsucker all winter.
I think spring is here, because everything is changing. And the bird song is wonderful.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines
carol.schulz50 at gmail