Hi Tweets -

Colin Thoreen and I went over to Vashon today and made our first stop at
Ed Swan's to look for the Harris' Sparrow. The bird showed up after
about 20 minutes waiting. It really is attractive as it is in near
complete breeding plumage. It is hanging out with a large flock of
Golden-crowned Sparrows, which are themselves stunning. While there we
had one White-crowned Sparrow, one shy Song Sparrow, a couple of Spotted
Towhees, a Dark-eyed Junco, a small flock of Pine Siskins, some House
Finches, a male and a couple of female Purple Finches, a Red-breasted
Nuthatch and about 4 Red Crossbills. The siskins, nuthatch and
crossbills all came in to a hanging feeder and were about 10 feet away.
In the distance we had adult and immature Bald Eagles. Great views. Many
thanks to Ed for his hospitality.

Elsewhere on Vashon things were pretty quiet as it clouded over and the
wind came up. At KVI beach, we did have White-winged Scoter, Horned
Grebe, Brant (about 25), American Crow, and 1 Western and 7 Least
Sandpipers.

We also stopped at the Montlake Fill and had a large number of
Yellow-rumped Warblers (about 4:1 Myrtles to Audubons). We also had a
Wilson's Warblers, a Warbling Vireo, a probable Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a
Downy Woodpecker (male), a Northern Flicker (red-shafted), Barn,
Violet-green and Tree Swallows and a Vaux's Swift. On the central pond
we had Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Greater and Lesser Scaup,
Ruddy duck, Green-winged Teal, American Coot, Killdeer and Pied-billed
Grebe.

At Magnusson Park, near NOAA we had Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe,
Red-necked Grebe, and Western Grebe, European Starling, and House
Sparrow using Cliff Swallow nests. Just north of here at Matthews Beach
we had Cliff Swallow. Along the way we had Glacous-winged Gulls.

A nice assortment of birds on a short half-day under cool, windy
conditions.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
bellasoc at isomedia.com