Hi Tweets -
Back from a few weeks of travel, I used a jetlag-induced inability to
sleep to get out and do some birding this morning -- I think most of
the things I saw have been reported already, but I wanted to pass
along word of 3 or more YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in Kent today.

They were at the corner of the W.Valley Highway and 285th, at a
recycling house with mounds of compost in the yard. Parking is good
on the one block of 285th between the WVH & Hwy 167.
Also in the pond at that spot:
a few CIN.TEAL [also saw them at Kent Ponds]
a couple BLUE-WINGED TEAL
20+ peeps [I forgot my scope, but they looked good for Westerns]
Greater Yellowlegs [here and at most other wet spots]

Up at the Boeing Ponds:
1 Solitary Sandpiper
1 Spotted Sandpiper
4 Least Sandpipers
5 Greater-white Fronted Geese
1 Egyptian Goose [-looking?] - this one has been there for a while
right? Presumed escapee, I expect.
1 Lincoln's Sparrow, drastically outnumbered by the loud Savannahs.
another birder reported an Am.Pipit here too
[and a woman walking her dog and encouraging it to jump in the ponds
& chase the ducklings & goslings]

Thomas' Wetlands [off Frontage road on the east side of hwy167 south of 277th],
only 1 Spotted Sandpiper [and some ducks & geese]

Nice to see Common Yellowthroats & swallows everywhere too.

Best,

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
PS - China trip was great, I'll post a link to the trip report when
I've got it written up. Tons of confusing warblers & colorful
flycatchers -- 166 species for the trip & 69 lifers.
--