Hi All

We had several visitors this morning. A common merganser (male) came by,
but didn't even give a glance at the new nesting box we erected on the
beach; it may be that no one is going to try it out this year? A pair of
Gadwalls comes over every morning, along with the Coots and Mallards. A
pair of Western Grebes was feeding a few hundred feet off shore, as is
their habit, while a Pied Bill Grebe worked closer to shore.

A male Red Shafted Flicker came to the feeder for the first time and none
of the Chickadees or English Sparrows gave him a problem. A pair of
Canadian Geese came up on the neighbor's porch, and one of them climbed
into a large flowerpot, thinking it would make a good nesting site. A pair
of Stellars Jays also came by.

Rode by the Marymoor Bald Eagle nest this afternoon, one of the adults was
setting in the nest, presumably on the eggs. Earlier we stopped at the
Lake Hills Library, and took a short walk on the adjoining nature trail,
when we spotted a Merlin in the top of a small snag. We tried to get
closer, but a crow ran him/her off. We understand the Merlins nest north
of the border, why is this bird still here? Have they not started nesting
yet?

Bill and Kate
Lake Sammamish