Tweeters,

Yesterday, July 1, I managed to find the Seattle HOODED ORIOLE in
what is now the usual spot-- the unnamed, private cul-de-sac
leading downhill from Magnolia Boulevard opposite Montfort Place.
I was there from about 9:30 to 10:45 AM. Although I'm sure I heard the
oriole calling repeatedly from shortly after I arrived, it took me over an
hour to finally get a glimpse of the bird. Once I did, however, I got
some very good looks at the bird-- better, it sounds, than many of
the birders who have seen it so far. I had the bird in view for a
total of at least 2 minutes, and at one point, the oriole sat in the top of
a small conifer along the lower part of the cul-de-sac (I think it was in
front of 2561 Magnolia) for more than a minute. Patience is rewarded!

There were no other birders there during my visit to share these great
views-- I guess all the "hot shots" have already seen the bird.

My plan to avoid rush hour traffic by coming on a Saturday backfired.
Although the traffic coming into Seattle in the morning was no
problem, I made the mistake of stopping at Alderwood Mall in the
early afternoon. By the time I left at 2 PM, the northbound traffic on I-5
was as bad as on any weekday. Between Alderwood and Marysville,
the traffic was bumper-to-bumper, and varied in speed from 0 to
30 mph. When I got to the Blaine border crossing, the traffic was backed
up at least 1-1/2 miles from the border! Although I have a permit
for the "Nexus" lane (border express lane), I had to drive up the road
shoulder for half a mile to get into the Nexus lane, because the
entrance to the lane was blocked by the traffic backup. I was worried that
I would be late for the Vancouver Canadians baseball game that
I had promised to attend with my family, but in the end I made it
with half an hour to spare. Boy, the lengths to which birders will go
to see one crummy bird!

Good luck and good birding,

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net