Hey Cynthia

It's good to hear from you! I especially enjoyed your swallow
sighting; I was driving home at dusk two nights ago and near a wetland by the
Yelm Highway, I thought I saw a couple of swallows. But like you, it seems
pretty early. Though a friend who lives near Woodard Bay says that the bats
are coming back, which is also early. Both bats and swallows are aerial
predators feeding on flying insects; I'm assuming they wouldn't come back
this early unless there is food to eat....Sometimes I wonder if either bats or
swallows can somehow sense/hear/echolocate from long distances, picking up
the hum of flying insect hordes.

Yes, I agree with you that the Annas are in full courtship mode. In
California, they start in late January and are genetically wired for this
time, so I guess it's not a big surprise that they do it early here as well.
Though in some Februarys they probably regret it. By the way, the
earliest Rufous male scouts might be showing up soon; the earliest date I've
ever seen one is Feb. 28th. So we shall see.

I'm sorry I missed the mushroom growing class. We are planning to
put in a bed of chips and grow Stropharia/Garden giants for food. I'm
really looking forward to experimenting with that. Yes, I have seen radical
mycology webpage and yes, they are all Paul Stamets freaks. But pretty
interesting, for all that. By the way, there's a local mushroom club South Sound
Mushroom Club, which meets regularly and does fall/spring field trips. I've
joined the club and it's pretty interesting. You might want to google
them...

Another by the way: You may have heard that Puget Sound Mycological
Society is hosting a spring foray near Randel, Washington that looks
fabulous. If not, here are the details:
Joy Spurr Memorial Foray at Cispus
05/18/12 - 05/20/12
Puget Sound Mycological Society will be honoring our Charter Member and
Nature photographer, Joy Spurr by gathering at the Cispus environmental
Learning Center May 18-20, 2012. Please join us for this 3 day/2 night in-depth
educational mushroom experience. Join guided forest walks to experience the
ecology and beauty of the forest and the fungi's role in this ecosystem. Expert
speakers will present evening programs, guides and crafters will teach
about mushroom identification, cultivation and mushrooms as a source for natural
dyes in daytime workshops. This event begins at 3 pm Friday check-in and
ends after lunch on Sunday May 20.
You must be a member of a Local or National Mycological Society to
register. Cost includes lodging (rustic, dorm style with hot water and electricity)
meals, and all activities from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. Adults
$95 child $45. email questions to education at psms.org
Location: Cispus Environmental Learning Center, Randal, WA. You can check
out the link: http://mms.psms.org/members/evr/regmenu.php?orgcode=PSMS
Glen and I talked about doing it, but I don't think the time will
work out. But it looks fabulous.

The PSMS also has beginner mushroom ID classes; they regularly run
a 4 week, Thursday evening series, 7-9 class in Seattle. I've wanted to
do it, but really dread the drive to Seattle at that time.

The local bird listserve is Tweeters: here is their contact person:
tiso at u.washington.edu
You can contact him if you want to get on the list. I really enjoy it,
especially hearing about the first sightings of the year.

Well, it's my day off and I'm still in my jammies. Time to go be a
grown-up and get into the day. It's great to hear from you and I hope you
are doing well...

Janet