[meandering Wa]

they could be tent caterpillar, you may need to compare other photos to the ones you have. Not seeing as much yellow as usual, but that may show up better if you have other photos it looks like a cut and burn situation that tree is in a sad situation

[mike]

Yes, a type of tent caterpillar but not the type we usually see devouring alders and fruit trees in the spring and summer. No yellow and with spiky hairs...

[IanB]

I've encountered critters similar to those, once in a Mountain hemlock and once in a true fir (sp.) Both incidents were at about this time of year. Agreed that they are not Malacosoma californicum, but some sort of evergreen equivalent. They hadn't progressed far in the hemlock, so I was able to cut out the topknot and retrain a new leader. In the fir though, they were all over the top half of the tree - nothing for it but a session of thorough, bare-handed smooshing. Both trees are just fine today.

[meandering Wa]

huzzah!!!!! cannot remember finding a trillium in February Man I had to turn on the heat this AM to chase the chill

[IanB]

Just a follow-up, that I never saw that Rufous hummingbird a second time. He was unmistakable, but must have been a real fluke significantly ahead of his peers. The competition from my resident Anna's must have kept him moving along. Some early pears are almost in bloom.

[DIYSteve]

Yup, Feb is early for a Rufous Hummer. per BirdWeb, Rufous Hummer in Puget Trough is rare in Feb, uncommon in March, common May-July, fairly common Aug-Sept, absent Oct-Jan. I've seen them in West Seattle in March.

[IanB]

On Bainbridge, the arrival is usually within a few days either side of March 15th. They always seem to arrive just after the first salmonberry blooms open up.

[DIYSteve]

Gotta luv the spring migration!

[meandering Wa]

agree with Ian, the salmonberry tell me when to expect +/- week. After my walk today I shared my car ride with a very large mosquito or a very small cranefly Monkey flower, spring beauty, prairie star and some very early meadow camas at Washington Park. Anacortes

[wildernessed]

Ran into quite a few Butter Cups around 2200' on a South exposed slope while doing a loop in The Wenatchee Foothills. The first wildflowers I have seen from a trail this year.

[IanB]

Seeing the Rufous hummingbird regularly at the feeder this morning. Been hearing lots of Pacific wrens, Hutton's vireos, and Brown creepers singing.

[DIYSteve]

I've been hearing Pacific Wren songs for at least a month. Male Song Sparrows are singing, starting to stake out their territories in Schmitz Park.

[glenoid]

Mountain Bluebird (male). Huckleberry Butte, 5300 feet Blue Mountains of Umatilla National forest. Maybe it was me being early up there, not him!

[Toni]

Deleo Wall 3-12-15

Deleo Wall 3-12-15

[mike]

this afternoon

blue-eyed marys

lupine

fawn lily

shooting star