The Bob Heirman Wildlife area (Shohomish Co, Elliot Rd.) was exceptionally
nonexceptional today, few birds came into focus although there were many
garter snakes out early, including a 3 footer which was one of the biggest
one I have ever seen. Along the rocky cobble of the riverbar edge was a
solitary sandpiper or a very cleverly disguised yellow-legs who had mold on
his legs. A warbler I could not identify played hide and seek in the Dune
tansy along the sandbar and a Great Blue heron, with much groaning and
gronking landed awkwardly, with a great deal of flapping, in a smallish
cottonwood along the bar, the young tree bending considerably under the big
bird, and the bird flapping and fussing trying to stay on top. Finally the
heron gave it up as a bad idea and landed on the edge of the marshy spot
nearby. It then spent considerable time fluffing itself and preening,
perhaps trying to act nonchalant about making such a dumb landing while I
was watching.

On the way back to the parking lot, in the small pond by the bottom of the
hill I paused to try and figure out the eclipse plumage ducks. While I was
puzzling, the whole lot of them took off all at once and after a bit the
tall grass began to move and I hoped for a coyote, but it was just a deer
looking for a drink.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer, Teacher
Maltby, WA

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