Hi Tweets,

Sorry for the late posting. I made my annual pilgrimage to Emerald Downs to commemorate my misspent youth and contribute to the retired racehorse fund on Friday, August 15th. I pulled into the first $4 parking lot north of the grandstand and spied a large dark bird on the asphalt. It was smaller than a crow and bigger than a blackbird. I grabbed my binoculars and noted its glaring yellow eyes, heavy bill and shiny blue head, neck and upper breast. I reached for a field guide and turned to the grackle section. I'm confident that I was looking at a Common Grackle. I saw hundreds of them in Florida last April. As I got out of my car it flew away. There were many Brewer's Blackbirds in the vicinity, also.

Other birds of note; three flocks of Canada geese in the infield and several House Sparrows near the rail.
Numerous Railbirds, too.

Good birding.
Alan Roedell 206-522-0809
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