100 meat eaters and Sandhill Cranes

There is a Sandhill Crane Festival in Othello, Washington in the next few days. If the flock of over "100 meat eaters" that I witnessed on abt. February 27, 2010 at 5:30PM were attempting to get to Othello, Washington in time for the festival, they were headed in the WRONG direction:

For those of you who enjoy watching very large flocks of meat eating
birds.....this would've been a treat for you. Over 100 vultures? or
Eagles? flew Southwest of North Yelm at 5:30 PM today.
They formed two circles and flew at a high altitude enjoying the air
currents, just before it starting raining at 5:40PM.

[I am oftentimes directionally challenged - Northwest
NOT Southwest.]

Noted not likely to be vultures (was told by tweet vulture exp. would be unusual)
Eagles do not flock, either.
No outstretched necks or trailing legs noted w/re: Sandhill Cranes

Very large bird much like an Eagle/Ospry/Vulture.
Flap, flap, glide, soar.
Wingtips with fingerlike projection of feathers like Eagles/Ospry/Vultures.

Rufous Hummingbird

March 22, 2010

After having my head buzzed with the "engine like" noise of a hummer's wings the day before yesterday (21 March 2010) , I have finally seen the first hummingbird of the year: Rufous. He flew out of the trees and paused at the fronds of an Ocean Spray and Evergreen tree, then flew back into the treeline. Many of the Junco's (12-15) that are usually at my feeders are now absent and for a day were replaced by Stellar's Jay and about seven Crow. Driving, I noticed an adult Bald Eagle circling near the JBLM-McChord Roy gate. It appears that many predators(Hawks and Eagles) have been enjoying the warmer weather, lately. Towards Puyallup and 1/2 way to the South Hill mall exit this weekend I spotted a Hawk, too, circling to the right of the freeway. There were many Robins (6 or 7) ground feeding with Towhee's and a Rock Pigeon yesterday afternoon.

Eagles dominate Crows infiltrate

For the past two sunny afternoons, an Eagle has been circling just above tree top level. Three Canada Geese flew over the tree tops yesterday evening at dusk in the direction of the pond. My normal bunch of 12-15 Juncos have been absent. Visits to the feeder are primarily from a pair of Pine Siskin and a pair of Red-Breasted Nuthatch and a Chestnut backed chickadee or two. I have heard Towhees and Stellar Jay in the back brush and have seen at least one of the pair of Varied Thrush. Junco's are largely absent at the feeders and have taken to flitting in the lower branches of evergreen trees. The Stellar Jay annoy my puppy as do the squirrels here in the green belt. Puppy would love to chase them away! I wonder if the absence of Junco's has anything to do with the increased number of crows in the area? Are the Junco's nesting now? Or have they moved? I have noticed quite a few more bugs in the afternoon.

We have had quite a bit of heli traffic in the past month, too. This week I noticed that a group of 6 or 7 crows perched in various tree top locations across approx. 2 acres, call to each other using three caws each and in turn each will respond with three caws. Once, a crow called six or seven caws in quick succession where all seven simultaneously flew away from the direction of an approaching helicopter. I believe that crows are very intelligent. Some say that they can even recognize human faces.

One night, just at dark, there was a bird that flew right by me. It was small in size with pointed wing tips. I wonder if it was a nighthawk.

First Mountain Bluebird - Thurston County Yelm

Along Canal Rd. there is a small stand of Oaks where I watched a
Mountain Bluebird fly across the road earlier this week. I imagine it
is the same Mountain Bluebird that was in this location last year.

See TWEETERS ARCHIVE

Western Bluebird from BirdWeb

Western Bluebirds can be found in eastern Washington at the edges where the forest meets the steppe. They are also found in open coniferous forest, especially Ponderosa pine. They are especially common in areas where nest box projects have provided them with adequate cavities. Nest boxes are in place in Kittitas, Yakima, Klickitat, Walla Walla, Columbia, and Garfield Counties. In western Washington, Mountain Bluebirds are now regular, but uncommon, in the Fort Lewis area, and rare in forest clearings in King, Pierce, Thurston, and Mason Counties, and in prairie areas near Port Townsend (Jefferson County), at the mouth of the Naselle River (Pacific County), Forks (Clallam County), and other sites on the eastern Olympic Peninsula. They can also be found year round in Skamania County.

[Yelm habitat is mostly, prairie]

Mountain Bluebird from Birdweb

Mountain Bluebirds can be found in alpine parklands in the Cascades, the Blue Mountains, and the northeast corner of Washington. They are absent as breeders from the Olympic Mountains. In western Washington, they can be found locally near Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. In eastern Washington they can be found along Umtanum Ridge (Yakima County), Elk Heights (Kittitas County), in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, and at mid-elevations on the east slope of the Cascades in meadows and logged areas. There is a significant population in Klickitat County around Bickleton where an intensive nest box program has provided many nesting opportunities. The Mountain Bluebird is the only bluebird that nests in alpine parkland and high elevation open areas. In the winter they can be found in flocks in similar habitat and more open, treeless terrain, but they are very uncommon.

Description:
Blue back, wings, and head. White breast.
Earlier notes [2009] indicate, white eyering, white breast, blue wings w/small patch of black overall color blue which suggests a Western Bluebird.

Noted in S. Thurston County, Tenino: 2 - 9 Feb. 2010 on Tweet

Tweets, Monday around noon I spotted a female Mountain Bluebird near 16700
Gibson Rd in s. Thurston Co. This location is about 5 minutes from I-5 via
exit 88 (Grand Mound/Hwy 12 exit), then east on Old Hwy 99 toward Tenino.
Gibson runs north from just past the racetrack, and the bird was located
beyond the jog then north past the 3 chicken barns along the east-west
fenceline on the right that borders the tree farm. I was out searching for
kites and shrikes but also thinking it might be a good day for bluebirds to
be about. (I encountered 4 male Western Bluebirds along Gibson Rd on Feb 9
2009, evidently passing through.) This bird was well off the road but
happened to make a foray to the ground and caught my eye just as I was
driving slowly by. The last time a Mountain Bluebird was reported in
Thurston County it stuck around for several days. Good birding!
-- P. H. / Tenino, s. Thurston Co / phicks AT accessgrace DOT org

Yardbirds

Two pine siskin have been feeding regularly at the feeder full of
black oil sunflower and millet. They will sit togather one on each
side, balancing the feeder and have lunch.

One of five local squirrels attacked that feeder yesterday and snipped
the string holding it in the tree. The string was replaced promptly
with a metal coat hanger. *Gotcha*

Three red-winged black birds sang at the canal in and above the thorny
brush. There are about 15 Juncos that feed regularly here, along with
a pair of red-breasted nuthatches, and the occassional downy
woodpecker.

Watched *something* (Merlin?) dive from a moderate altitude above the
treetop several times. Pointed wing tips. Medium sized bird, about
the size of a large Raven or Crow. This bird dives straight down
really fast. Just before the dive he will flutter in place in
mid-air. Watched him/her dive three or four times. Really neat to
watch.

Oftentimes the crows here will alert us here of soaring Eagles.

There were over 190 ducks and at least 10 Canadian Geese on American
Lake - Lakewood, Pierce County, Saturday. Didn't see any Eagles
Saturday.