Hi Tweets, 3 items to report:

If you're a beginner and want a scope, I saw a used 60mm Bausch & Lomb
scope in the window of a used camera store in the U-district (Seattle)
for $59. These scopes are old, but very good optics and are virtually
indestructible. I was very tempted to buy it myself, just because it's a
good deal, but then I don't really NEED it. I have used these scopes
before, their optics are comparable to today's Bushnell Spacemaster
series, but I'm sure they will stand up to much more abuse. We had one
that had been dropped several times in salt water and still worked fine.
It has a 20x lens (interchangeable). The store is on 43rd St. on the
block between University Way and Brooklyn (near Flowers restaurant).

Yesterday I saw 2 eagles near Magnusson making a lot of noise and flying
together in interesting formations. I assumed it was courting, they
never tried to drive each other off. It's that time of year again...

On the same note, I flushed a starling from a cavity in the building
where I work this morning. It was a House Sparrow nest last year. I
have seen a buildup of nesting material there lately. Maybe all this
nice weather has fooled the starling into thinking it's summer. Or maybe
it's just roosting there.

____________________________
Mike Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu