Tweeters -

From Sunday to Tuesday I stayed at my grandparent's house at Hood Canal,
and got a chance to see returning migrants. In front of the house on the
canal, ducks included MALLARD, COMMON and BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, and
BUFFLEHEADS. There were plenty of GLAUCOS-WINGED GULLS, several HORNED and
RED-NECKED GREBES, now in breeding plumage along with a beautiful COMMON
LOON. Alcids included two breeding MARBLED MURRELETS and a single breeding
PIGEON GUILLEMOT.
A little ways inland, within view of the canal, I noted several returning
migrants. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS abounded - they were absolutely everywhere,
the males doing (what I believe to be) mating displays: flying twenty or
thirty feet high, plummeting towards the ground, and emitting a sharp
"du-du-doo". They sounded and looked a lot like miniature fighter planes.
One hummer chased three ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS from his territory all at
once. All the males hummers are squabbling and participating in the annual
"Hummingbird Wars" for territories and breeding. A pair of raucous PILEATED
WOODPECKERS accompanied RED-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS,
and NORTHERN FLICKERS. A woodpecker day! Several new songs and calls from
all throughout the woods. All kinds of good birds. One interesting note was
4 OSPREYS chasing one another and catching thermals. No returning
flycatchers yet.
A great couple of days.

Tyler Davis, 15
Mercer Island