Comings and Goings

Cougar sighting closes Walla Walla nature trail                    © Diane B. Reed

 
 Big excitement in our neighborhood when a cougar was spotted last Friday on the Blue Mountain Audubon trail at Fort Walla Walla Park, less than a mile from us. Cougars occasionally make an appearance in town, though generally they don't seem to stay long enough to become a problem. In a way, it's not surprising that one would show up at the park, which encompasses a fair amount of acreage and features a deer herd that seems to make a circuit between the park, the defunct Blue Mountain Mall (they actually bed down inside some of the partially constructed buildings) and Mill Creek. Haven't heard of any more sightings since then, but that doesn't mean he/she is not around. It's just part of living near wide open spaces and the Blue Mountains - cougars, moose, coyotes, turkeys and other critters.

Pine Siskins and House Finches     © Diane B. Reed

There was a flock of Cedar Waxwings hanging out on the island in the pond today. They darted between the snag and the Cottonwoods stretching up Garrison Creek. We  haven't seen many of them this summer, but now it's the time of year when things are changing daily, a time of transition from summer to fall.  Birds are migrating, stopping by the bird feeder and the pond as they make their way to their winter  homes.

© Diane B. Reed

All that bird activity led to an exciting encounter right in our own back yard.  We were enjoying sitting out in our chairs overlooking the pond. A flock of Pine Siskins were on the feeder and the ground close by. A few doors down we noticed that a large bird had landed on the roof of a neighbor's house, right next to a standpipe. Mildly interesting, but the binoculars were in the house so we ignored it. Turning away from the sunset's reflection on the pond, I was astonished to see a large bird with wings outspread heading straight toward me. I ducked as he passed inches over my head. My husband said that a small bird had just flown by with what turned out to be a hawk in hot pursuit. Apparently the hawk was so intent on his prey that he simply saw me as an object to fly over, not a person. I'm not sure who was more surprised, me or the hawk!