Hi Tweets:

On Thursday April 13 seven birders joined East Lake Washington Audubon for a
field trip to Spencer Island where 49 species were seen and/or heard.
The smattering of rain didn't dampen spirits as much as seeing the changes
that are occurring on the island. It will remain to be seen how the birds
respond. Along the river trail, a territorial Osprey let two Bald Eagles know that
they were not welcome. Song and White-crowned Sparrow and Spotted Towhee
were the only birds found in the same vicinity. Noisy Caspian Terns successfully
fished, not wanting to share with the Mew Gulls. Singing birds included
Marsh and Bewick's Wren, Purple Finch and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. All was quiet on
the inner trail until a perched Peregrine Falcon was spotted. Scope views
showed it to be an immature bird. Nearby, Wood Ducks and Mallards shared a pond.
A couple of Mourning Doves were seen as was Belted Kingfisher and Northern
Flicker. A group of 4 Greater Yellowlegs flew close as did a larger flock of
Long-billed Dowitchers that landed to share the mud with Green-winged Teal. A
Northern Harrier scared up some ducks. Ducks were few but included Ring-necked
Duck, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Gadwall, Common Goldeneye, and Common
Merganser. It seemed like hundreds of swallows filled the air and with careful
spotting 5 species were identified. On the return route to the cars, a
breeding-plummaged Bonaparte's Gull flew low overhead and was a Lifer for one among
the group. By then the rain was in earnest and it was time to call it a day.
This is the first time in several years that we did not hear a Virginia Rail
or see American Bittern in the month of April on the ELWAS, Spencer island
field trip.

Joyce Meyer
Woodinville, WA
www.elwas.org