---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 1 May 98 13:34:03 -0800
From: Dennis Paulson <dpaulson at ups.edu>

Hi tweeters,

I've had to stay home for a week with a bad back, so I've taken advantage
of an unplanned break and have been checking out the scene in my yard
every day. Couldn't stay inside, with the weather we're having. I had
just about despaired of getting any more new birds for my yard list
(Maple Leaf district of North Seattle), but all of a sudden they're
coming almost as fast as I can log them in!

On 21 April, a Savannah Sparrow stopped briefly and fed with House
Sparrows before disappearing. This wooded neighborhood is distinctly not
Savannah Sparrow habitat, but it shows you that migrants will take what
they can get.

On 29 April, a Peregrine Falcon flew over very rapidly, apparently on
northbound migration--I considered this a long-overdue species.

Today, 1 May, a Nashville Warbler foraged methodically through the small
trees in the yard for quite a while (for species #105); I consider this an
uncommon to rare migrant on the west side. While spending an hour in a
lawn chair in the back yard, I saw this, a male Western Tanager, my first
Vaux's Swifts and Barn Swallows for the neighborhood, and a Sharp-shinned
Hawk being mobbed by V-g Swallows, and I heard Pileated Woodpecker,
Warbling Vireo, and Purple Finch, all scarce visitors. Watching the
tanager for a minute or so, and excited by all the other sounds and sights
in and near the yard, I think I understand why so many people become
birders!

And then, to top it all off, a California Darner (Aeshna californica)
came in and circled the yard, the first dragonfly I've seen this year (and
also new for my yard list, which totals only 11 species of Odonata, almost
all "vagrants"). The first dragon, usually some time in late April, has
become my sign that spring has finally come.

Hope you're all having a good spring too.

For any replies, please use my university account: dpaulson at ups.edu

Dennis

Netta Smith and Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 528-1382