Hey Tweets!

I took my son and nephew on an eight-miler on the Lower South Fork Skokomish Trail in Mason County today. The three of us agreed that the best birds of the day were a pair of Barred Owls. Early on the hike, we passed some huge hemlocks and I saw something owl-or-raptor sized ahead of us. Out of curiosity, I gave a single Barred Owl call, and we quickly got views! One flew to a branch above us and was very well seen as it hissed at us. A second one did the same from farther up the trail. We were able to view it for several minutes before we decided to move along. It was a little disheartening to be in an area with such enormous trees and to find Barred Owls so comfortably moved in.

It really wasn't all too birds otherwise, with the only surprise being a Common Nighthawk calling around 1:30.

Off topic... We swatted and collected an insect that landed on me, then my nephew. Orange fly/wasp/hornet thing with green eyes. I didn't recognize it, which of course means that its bite would have been painful, repeated and deadly. Or so I will imagine until someone can tell me what it was. I'll deal with getting a picture later... *shudder*

We also passed a spider that was interesting. It was devilishly hard to get a focused picture, but it was on a web at eye level, with alternating black and white segments on the legs, and a cryptically black and white body. It may have been an inch in length, was on the medium-skinny build, and struck a defensive posture with front legs raised when we tried to get in for a picture. Email me privately on these so we don't blow the place up with bug discussions, but please help. New birds are exciting! New spiders and whatnot just scare the heezy out of me.

Tim Brennan
Renton