Hi Tweeters -
I started out this morning with a return trip to Marymoor Park in
Redmond to try again for the Vespers Sparrow.
It was foggy for much of the morning, but the birds were good.
First, I came across a COMMON NIGHTHAWK in the main Dog Meadow. It
was sitting on a trail and really didn't seem interested in flushing,
even when a couple dogs came close by. Eventually though, one of the
dogs did get it up and flying. Later, I saw it again, circling around
the Dog Meadow. I'd bet that if you were to head to Marymoor tonight
around dusk there'd be a good chance of seeing this bird either over
the Dog Meadow or the East Meadow.

After the Nighthawk, I next was able to relocate the Lapland
Longspurs - two seen today. Most interesting was watching one sitting
up in 'snag row' on a tree -- not a place I'd expect to see it.

Finally, after about 4 hours in the dog meadow, I managed to find
that VESPER SPARROW [with help from Gene & Nancy Hunn]. It was very
close to where Michael Hobbs reported it yesterday, in the NE corner
of the Dog Meadow.

Other interesting birds at Marymoor included a couple AMERICAN PIPITS
overhead, an AMERICAN KESTREL, and as with yesterday, 2 immature
COOPERS HAWKS in Snag Row.

After Marymoor, I headed down to the Kent Valley. Things were pretty
quiet at the normal stops there, but a couple good birds turned up.

At Boeing Ponds, I had 2 more LAPLAND LONGSPURS. They lifted up from
the 'islands' in the ponds, and flew south, perhaps to the bare
fields approaching 200th St. The only other birds of note I saw at
this stop were a couple of Greater Yellowlegs.

Finally, down at Kent Ponds at about 1:00, from the Grassy Knoll
overlook off 64th, a GREAT EGRET was out in the open foraging.

A good day in the county,

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA
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