Hi All,
Yesterday on our way out of town, I saw some large birds in a field,
picking at the ground along with Brewer's Blackbirds and Crows. As we
passed them, I noted their dark brown color, long legs, and long
downward-curving beaks. I recognized them because they are the newest
addition to my life list: White-faced Ibis. But I was surprised to see
them away from a marsh, where I saw them last month for the first time.
Cattle Egrets were in the next field, also picking at the ground, and I
would have expected to see these two species together instead of with the
blackbirds and crows.

Today I was in Kmart's parking lot when I saw something better than a blue
light special: a Yellow Warbler in one of the lot's trees. It may be the
first one I've seen this year, if my memory is correct (an increasingly
chancy thing any more!).

In answer to Patrick Scott about the White-crowned Sparrows, I have one or
two visit my ground seed, which is mostly millet, but they stay close to
the dwarf lemon tree for cover. I love their song too, Patrick !

Cathi Tomsen
tomscar at lasercom.net
Hemet, CA