Wayne Weber and I knocked around north Whidbey Island yesterday. We didn't
turn up anything of real interest ( darn those Barn Owls!) but there were
abundant signs of spring:
* Spotted Towhee singing.
* 6 male Common Goldeneyes displaying for a solitary female.
* Bufflehead males also displaying.
* We found a Pigeon Guillemot in full alternate (breeding ) plumage.
* I heard a woodpecker drumming in our yard in Coupeville but wasn't sure of
the species.
I'm leaning toward Hairy.
*I glimpsed a hummingbird in the afternoon, species unknown.
* In our yard we have red-flowering currant, salmonberry, and osoberry all
in bloom.
* And the biggest sign yet: my eyes, nose, and throat are detecting red
alder pollen!
Steve Ellis
Coupeville, Wa
sellis at coup.wednet.edu