Tweets - Nine of us experienced a rather weird morning today, birding
under dark, unsettled skies, buffeted by gusty winds at times, even having
to bird in the drizzle some. The birds ran hot and cold and hot again -
the first 30 species came at a normal pace. Over the next 1.5 hours, we
saw almost no birds (let alone something new), then suddenly we were
seeing stuff everywhere again.

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and WARBLING VIREO were everywhere! I've never
come across so many of the former - counting was impossible, as they moved
too fast, but we were clearly in the double digits - 15-20?

Other highlights:

Sharp-shinned Hawk Swooped through one of our OCWA/WAVI flocks
MERLIN Attacked a flying Red-tailed Hawk!
Barn Owl My first bird of the morning (flying). Also at
roost.
Black Swift 1 with Vaux's and Barn Swallows over slough
R-breasted Sapsucker 1 at Rowing Club
Hairy Woodpecker 1 female in snag row again
Red-eyed Vireo 1 with WAVIs at s. end of E. Meadow
V-green Swallow Still 1 around
B-throated Gray Wblr 1 female at Rowing Club
Lincoln's Sparrow One of our first birds
Western Meadowlark 1 in East Meadow

We also heard one SWAINSON'S THRUSH whit, as well as 2-3 Willow Flycatcher
(seen and heard). Quite a few COMMON YELLOWTHROAT about, and at least 2
YELLOW WARBLER. Found about 5 PURPLE FINCH. Had nice looks at GREEN
HERON.

Four woodpecker day (RBSA, DOWO, HAWO, NOFL) and a good rapter day with
RTHA and OSPR besides the ones noted above.

For the day, we managed 59 species! For the year, still at 122.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== http://www.scn.org/fomp/birding.htm
== hummer at isomedia.com