Subject: [Tweeters] Snoqualmie Point hike and other Snoqualmie valley birds
Date: Apr 25 20:30:53 2015
From: Scott Ramos - lsr at ramoslink.info


This morning I led an SAS field trip to Rattlesnake Mountain, leaving from Snoqualmie Point. Although a little on the chilly side, we were fortunate to avoid all of the rain cells we could see all around us. Several noteworthy birds were seen on the trip.

Sooty Grouse - this bird has been seen here every year for the past 6 years
A Turkey Vulture cruised by fairly low
Hammond?s and Pacific Flycatcher were both heard
A flock of 7 Common Raven was riding a thermal way above us
A very yellow female Nashville Warbler, showing no white at all on the vent, gave us good looks
High point was hearing a dozen or more Black-throated Gray Warblers and actually seeing a few of them

We next went to Stillwater to walk the trail along the old rail line.

Two pair of Cinnamon Teal could be seen in the wet marshes
A Ring-necked Pheasant was heard as were at least three American Bittern and a couple Virginia Rail
Along with a large number of Violet-green, Tree and Barn Swallows were a few Northern Rough-winged Swallows
Among the Yellow-rumped Warblers were a couple Myrtle, a dozen Audubon?s and one Myrtle x Audubons?s (medium yellow throat with pronounced white surround)

A final stop at Chinook Bend produced the hoped for Bank Swallows. At least 4 were flying near their nesting bank, giving the typical Bank calls

A nice outing with an enthusiastic group. 58 species for the day.
Scott Ramos
Seattle