Hey tweets, Lots of activity at the Fill lately. Three days ago, I saw the
resident sharp-shinned hawk being harrassed by a large flock of swallows,
all kinds. The poor hawk kept spiraling higher and higher into the sky,
soaring on a handy thermal, but the swallows kept soaring right on with
him. Crows and blackbirds were left behind in the dust, but the swallows
didn't quit until the hawk was twice as high as a passing airplane.

Two days ago, I thought things were going to be kind of quiet. The usual
suspects were all present, of course, but nothing spectacular. I began to
get worried that the Fill wouldn't deliver, a rare disappointment that has
occurred probably three times for me in the last 12 years. Then I saw
something I had never seen at the Fill before - a buck-naked woman was
posing for photographs on the west side of the main pond. I confess I was
brought literally to a standstill. On the one hand, I wanted to scan that
section for migrating shorebirds. On the other hand, I never aspired to be
a peeping Tom. Luckily the woman spotted me and began to get dressed, a
good thing, too, as a little family of bikers with two small children
showed up shortly after. The Chinese have a saying: Be careful what you
wish for - you might get it. I guess I'll have to be a little more specific
about asking the Fill to deliver something new.

Yesterday things were back to normal again. A little flock of migrants was
sew-machining on the main pond: a lesser yellowlegs (surprisingly bold), a
spotted sandpiper (already in full winter plumage), and three least
sandpipers. I also saw one of the juvenile towhees near the wedding rock
again, along with three male pheasants (including the limper). Also
present, a skittish Brewer's blackbird, and several Vaux's swifts who have
now mastered the art of drinking water on the fly. In case you're
wondering, they fold their wings back like rock doves and glide down
gradually to skim along the water and scoop up a drink. FYI, let me know if
you're interested in seeing the swifts roost at night in a local chimney.
They aren't doing it yet, but sometime in September, they'll gather by the
hundreds from all over town, circle the chimney lower and lower, and then
flow in in a stream. We saw them do that this spring for the first time (we
thought this was only a fall phenomenon) and got a good view from a nearby
hill. The swifts were going into the chimney at a rate of 3 per second.

Also FYI, we will hold a loosestrife-pulling party on Saturday, August 4,
from 8 a.m. till noon. Bring shovels, wear boots and lots of sunscreen.
Also bring gloves - there is quite a bit of St. Johnswort that needs to be
excavated too, and exposure to the skin and sunlight will cause highly
unpleasant bumps to form. Trust me on this one. Hope to see you there. -
Connie