Hi Tweets:

The last of the three Winter Wrens fledged on Mother's Day. They are so tiny
with a bright yellow bill and just a whisp of a perky tail. Some of you may
recall that Wren laid 5 eggs in a nest she built in a hanging bird house over
the front porch.

On Monday, Hugh Jennings, Derek Mahafy, Mike West, and I birded primarily
Whidbey Island and the Stanwood Water Treatment Ponds for East Lake
Washington Bird-a-thon. On the way to Useless Bay via Double Bluff Rd.
highlights included most of the swallow species and Orange-crowned,
Yellow-rumped and Wilson's warblers; Calif. Quail, Rufous Hummingbird and
Bald Eagle. At the overlook to Mutiny Bay we saw a Caspian Tern and were
serenaded by a Mourning Dove.

Near Crocketts Lake, an American Kestrel gave us a great look. We were
surprised by the lack of shorebirds in the area (on Thursday there were
many) and very surprised by the presence of 8-10 American Avocets feeding at
the lake. From Ft. Casey State Park we saw Common and Pacific Loon,
Rhinocerous Auklet, Common Murre, and Pigeon Guillemot. Many Harlequin Ducks
were hauled out near Ebey's Landing. Black Oystercatchers were seen at
Partridge Point and Kennedy's Lagoon. A variety of ducks were found at Bos
Lake (Swantown), including Blue-winged Teal. We finally found 3 Dunlin as we
left Dugualla Bay.

The stop in Stanwood was another highlight, especially as we approached the
80-bird-specie mark. There were several pairs of Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon
Teal, Canvasback, several Redhead Ducks, Wilson's Phalaropes, and a Bullock's
Oriole.

Turkey Vultures were seen over Coupeville and Deception Pass. The nesting
Ospreys at Everett made a great finale to another successful Bird-a-thon.

Joyce Meyer
Woodinville, WA
MEYER2J at aol.com