Subject: Fill morning
Date: Aug 11 11:55:18 2002
From: Constance J. Sidles - csidles at mail.isomedia.com


Hey tweets, Another great morning at the Fill. On the main pond, the
highlight was two lesser yellowlegs. Also still present, two spotted
sandpipers (one in partial breeding plumage), a western and numerous
leasts.

The great thing about shorebirds here is that if you're quiet and approach
slowly, the birds will usually let you get very close, so close that you
need expensive binocs to focus that near.

A bonus for shorebird-watching this year is that the willows and bushes on
the north end of the main pond have been good for warblers. Several common
yellowthroats forage about, and this morning, a glorious yellow warbler was
also busy. I've seen orange-crowned here too, but not this morning. This is
the same general area where Bob saw a northern waterthrush a few years ago,
so I am really keeping my eyes open.

Also this morning, four northern flickers were on the ground nattering to
each other at the south end of the main pond. (It's been a great year for
flickers.) The Bewick's wrens have finally molted and are out in force. The
savannah sparrows have pretty much left the area, although I saw two
stragglers in the willows. The gadwall babies I saw last week have
disappeared. I hope they weren't eaten by the bullfrogs I can hear in Union
Bay.

The green heron was out again on the Bay, so that was great. Green herons
always seem easy to see after you see them, but impossible to spot before.

The osprey that has been perching on the dead beaver tree has acquired what
looks like fishing line tangled in its foot. Whenever I see something like
this, I wish I could erect a big mist net and help out. Instead, all I can
do is watch sadly and hope that the person who was careless enough to
entangle such a beautiful bird gets plenty of flat tires in his or her
future. - Connie, Seattle

csidles at isomedia.com