Subject: [Tweeters] 6-25-2015 Crested Caracara notes
Date: Jun 25 19:40:00 2015
From: Denis DeSilvis - avnacrs4birds at outlook.com


Tweeters,

In case you're one of a few WA birders (like me) that hadn't seen the
Crested Caracara, here's my eBird comments plus other info.



Started at Mill Town area of Skykomish. Went to emergency airfield, back to
Mill Town, then to ball field east of town, then back to Mill Town. Just
west of main housing area there, I heard American Robins and other birds
giving mobbing-type calls. I then called two other folks, who joined us. We
walked from the road to the BNSF tracks (the mobbing birds had headed north
across the tracks). After about 10 minutes, (11:30am) the Crested Caracara
flew out from in front of us (amazing how camouflaged it was in the trees)
and to our right (east). It flew into the trees, and then flushed and flew
south just across the road. One of our group then spotted the bird very much
visible on a large horizontal branch. Two of our group took photos, and two
other birders arrived and took more photos. The bird then flew over a house
and into trees to the south. All of us had excellent views of the bird as it
flew past us and when in perched on the branch.



To get to Mill Town: Turn right (south) into Skykomish past the gas station.
Continue across the bridge and two sets of railroad tracks. At the "T"
junction, turn right and go past the houses, around a couple of bends, and
down a hill until the road flattens out (it's less than a mile from the
intersection you turned right on) and you find yourself in a small group of
houses. That's Mill Town. Note: A homeowner (Don) has a nicely maintained
home about half-way along the string of houses on the right side. He has
several hummingbird feeders set up, and according to what he said, goes
through about a gallon of "nectar" a day. He's a nice guy to talk with -
told us he'd seen the Crested Caracara the day before just west of the main
part of town.



Another note: I think we were lucky in not getting caught on the BNSF
right-of-way. Be careful out there.



Good luck!



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

avnacrs4birds at outlook dot com