Hello,
Another leisurely 3+ hours moseying down the woodland trails of
coastal Seahurst Park and intent-bino-scanning the Sound between our shore
and north Vashon Island.

An interesting day: More HERMIT thrushes are appearing; 2 or 3 VARIED
thrushes can still be found in the deep woodlands. Only the
Robin-thrushes are singing so far. I spotted a newly-parenting Robin with
an immense load of worms in its beak. The arrangement of the worms was
much like the strategy puffins use to carry small fishes for their young.
Ain't convergent evolution grand!

The woodlands abound with territorial SPOTTED towhees and SONG sparrows;
both CHESTNUT-BACKED and BLACK-CAPPED chickadees seem to be nesting in
abundance here also, plus COMMON bushtits may have a nest close to my
condo building. PACIFIC-SLOPE flycatchers were both seen and heard today.
Other than Northern Flickers, woodpeckers are not being seen on my treks,
though evidence of them, including Pileateds, is widespread. No Brown-
headed cowbirds have arrived, yet, so far as I can tell. A VIOLET-
GREEN swallow bunch is colonizing our neighborhood for the season.
And a very lovely, must-be-the-model-for-the-fieldguide RED-TAILED hawk
was soaring overhead generating much 'discussion' amongst the resident
Crows.

Close to shore on the Sound, about a dozen HORNED grebes were scattered,
some appearing to be paired and most all were in alternative plumage. A
pair of RED-NECKED grebes could be seen a couple of hundred meters
offshore. Two or three small rafts (<10 birds/group) of SURF scoters and
larger rafts (>20 birds/group) of BARROW's goldeneyes are still here. A
few RED-BREASTED mergansers, all either females or 1st-spring males, and a
couple of pairs of BUFFLEHEADS also remain.

Four COMMON LOONS (late lingerers?), one seen only ~30 meters off shore,
were observed. Three seemed to be a "group" swimming to and fro in
tandem and grooming close together (perhaps two suitors courting the third
bird?). The loon close to shore was clearly in full breeding plumage, very
beautiful; it did finally did go out to the vicinity of the other three
(about 200-300 meters out). I'm sure I heard them "yodeling," quite
surprising for the vast, open saltwater environment!

The gull mobs have generally migrated out as they usually do this time of
year with a few dozen Glaucous-winged, some full adults appear to be
pairing, and a small number of MEW gulls just hanging out. However, as
the weather becomes more amenable, the human visitation to this wonderful,
large Puget Sound beach reaches saturation......by my standards, by early
afternoon, a blunt reminder of the proximate megapolis. I guess by
most everybody else's standards, it'll get rreeaallllyy crowded on any
balmy summer afternoon a few weeks from now, prompting earlier-AM surveys.

But, today, mid-to-later afternoon, I was lucky to find a peaceful,
isolated-enough perch on a washed-up ancient log from which to survey the
water without distraction. And the woodland trails were lightly
traveled.......today.

Cheers,
Maureen
*******************************************
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu U of WA & Burien-Seahurst Park, WA

"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of
confusion and bamboozle requires vigilance, dedication, and courage."
-Carl Sagan-

"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities." -Pogo-