Hi all. I wanted to request that all you birders who frequent the Montlake
Fill to keep an eye out for a turtle nest in on the right side of the gravel
trail on the far East end of the loop near the smaller pond (Shoveler's
pond? Not sure which one has the name). There is a western painted turtle
nest there,my partner and I made a hafl circle of sticks around it to keep
people from stepping on the turtle this afternoon as they came by. Some
kind folks pointed her out to us as we was heading home for the day. The
female was in a total trance as she dug into the gravel to lay her eggs. It
was the strangest thing to see a turtle digging a nest in the trail! But,
sure enough their she was. Please keep your eyes peeled for her and her
nest.

Also, for those of you wanting a good bird sighting I saw a MOURNING DOVE on
my way out of the Fill near the UW Department of Horticulture center, flying
from the trail and into the alders nearby. I was so surprised to see one I
had to check it out to be sure, and it let me approach within good viewing
distance. Plus, there was a species of YELLOWLEGS (not sure of id, since I
only had a passing look as it ducked into cover) at the larger of the two
ponds. Oh, and not to forget the SNOW GOOSE swimming around shyly at the S.
E. end of the Union Bay Natural Area loop in Montlake Fill! I have seen
hybrids and domestic geese occasionally in Union Bay, and then of course
the Canda geese and that one odd Greater White-fronted goose... but never a
snow goose.

Enjoy your birding!


Filip Tkaczyk
Seattle, WA
mailto: pathwithaheart at hotmail.com

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