Over the weekend we were planting and watching the American Goldfinch
population in our back yard. They are very active and quite tolerant of
our close presence. We went in for lunch and the local Evening Grosbeaks
were joined by a pair of Blank-Headed Grosbeaks, a first for us.
Interesting to watch the two together. About a month ago we had what I
believe was a male Pine Grosbeak but I only saw it once.
The Violet Green Swallows and the House Sparrow are still doing battle over
the bird house. I'm quite prejudiced towards swallows so I have decided to
buy a serious squirt gun and provide them with artillery support.
We have had one Rufous Hummingbird for about ten days and a second arrived
about last Friday. I think I am seeing two males squabbling over the
feeder but I'm unsure. I'm finding hummers difficult. Mine don't seem to
match either Sibley or Kaufman very closely. Any suggestions would be
appreciated.

We were working on Lake Washington today. Upon returning through Union Bay,
opposite the Montlake Fill, we saw a mature Bald Eagle on a log in the
water eating what might have been a Coot. That's a guess as the eagle was
60-70 yards away and standing right at water level feeding. It could have
been a Muskrat for all I could see.

Good birding to you all.

Steve Aubert
email: steve.aubert at metrokc.gov