I was fortunate to have work on Lake Sammamish today, where I saw my first
tree swallows of the season, checking out the martin gourds at the North
end. Two were perched on the gourds, which were installed last year but had
no nesting activity. While the gourds were intended for purple martins, I'm
happy to see tree swallows make use of them as well. Sometimes martins will
occupy a tree swallow cavity as soon as the tree swallows fledge.
A few buffleheads were among the hundreds of coots by the water ski course.
I also saw one pair of western grebes doing their flambuoyant courting
ritual of running across the water with heads and torsos held high.
What a day at the office!

Kevin Li
Ballard, USA
kdli at msn.com