------------------ Was up in Issaquah, Wash. (east of Seattle) to visit
my daughter and grand daughter this weekend. Didn't do much
birdwatching. The weather was really great, except for a few light rain
showers on the way up Sat.morn.
..................We walked around a wetlands area maintained by the
city of Bellevue-----west of Lake Washington. A really nice area. Was
able to point out to my uninitiated 25yr. old daughter a fair number of
ducks, geese, hawks, and songbirds and their names( her husband was
'more' acquainted with some of the names). Saw some very large Canada
Geese, Mallards, some Gadwalls, White and Golden-crowned Sparrows,
several species of Wrens, several Rufus-sided Towhees, Blue Herons,
Red-winged Blackbirds......among other common species. Heard a
woodpecker, but did not see. My daughter enjoyed seeing and learning the
names of various birds.
...................But the biggest joy for me was awaiting me back at
her condo. in east Issaquah. Among the abundant House Finches, Tree and
Barn Swallows, and one Violet-green Swallow, were six Evening
Grosbeaks(both male and female) flittering around in the upper reaches
of the trees. They and the Finched also came closer to dine at a nearby
feeder. Since Evening Grosbeaks are very rarely seen in the area where I
live, to see these beautiful birds was both a thrill and a first for me.
The neighbors said that they arrived about a month ago. A Downy
Woodpecker has also been seen in the morns., but he didn't show his face
when I was around!!!(it would have been 'a lifer' also if I was able to
see it).

...................Take care, ya' all!!!!!!!!

Gerald Hamilton
Brush Prairie, Wash.
gerald at e-z.net