Earlier this summer I mentioned my surprise at seeing a couple of black
headed grosbeaks in our Puyallup yard, trying to get seed out of one of those
tube shaped feeders that have holes not intended for massive mandibles (like
Darwin finch selection, I guess). Well, they beat the odds. I also have a
feeder that looks like a little cedar house with shelves, and they stuck
around and learned how to use it. Every evening the most shy of little
birds-- always looking about to see if they were being watched and leaving as
soon as they sensed an audience, would make their demure little calls as they
snuck up for a quick feed. Then, just last week, they showed up with two
fledglings and starting feeding them from the same feeder. Never seen black
heads in our yard, or even in the city park near by, so this was a champagne
occasion.

Also, our barn swallows are well in to a second brood in our barn. This
seems to be a heavy year for babies about. By the way-- I noticed a few
posts about higher than usual number so common nighthawks about western Wash.
recently. To add another, while driving back from Dungeness spit in the
Sequim "sun belt" we saw five banking and swooping above the highway last
evening.
-------------------------------------
Name: Jerry Broadus
jbroadus at seanet.com
901-16th. St S.W.
Puyallup, Wa. 98371
206-845-3156
08/11/96
19:16:34