Hi Tweets

linda wakeman and i birded around the skagit area today. we started at the
skagit FWS headquarters. i am not sure of the exact name of this place. at
any rate some of the highlights: a flock of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, about
20 in total, mostly males, but at least 5 females. these birds were easily
seen from the area inside the fence where the headquarters building is.
just look across the field to the farm and check out the feed lot. they
were mixed in with the starlings and cowbirds.

a single male CINNAMON TEAL, along with 3 females. we were also lucky to
see a good number of shorebirds at quite close range as they were feeding in
the muck in the fields. we saw many WESTERN AND LEAST SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN,
several GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. we saw a flock of at
least 25 AMERICAN PIPITS.

the orange crowned warblers seemed to be as numerous as the audubon yellow
rumped warblers. they were singing all day long!!

we were lucky enough to observe a pair of downy woodpeckers excavating a
nest. we also observed an interesting copulation. the male landed on top
the female and appeared to begin copulation. then everything stopped, and
the male just sat there for at least 10 secs or so then flew off. its the
longest copulatory encounter either one of us had seen. any ideas what may
have taken so long??

eagles were actively hunting as were the harriers. linda commented that the
place was much less crowded now that they are requiring stickers to park
there. it was really a beautiful place with quite lovely scenery all
around.

we checked out several other sites in search of short eared owls, but
without success.

good day and good birding!
marissa j benavente
junebug at pol.net
seattle