Spencer Island near Everett was quite active/birdy today (ran into Marv
Breece and his Seattle Audubon group) with 42 species noted. Along the
river, Western Grebes were the highlight outshown only by 5 dueling
Kingfishers, and the riverside path blackberries were bursting with
sparrows: Song, Fox, White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Lincoln's (alas, no
Swamp...) and meandering mixed flocks of both Kinglets with both Chickadees.
I played the Gray Catbird call, since one was reported there recently, but
only had responses from Bewick's, Sparrows and many "meowing" Towhees. Near
the bridge, a Winter Wren popped up. Flocks of Goldfinches, Purple Finches,
Cedar Waxwings and Yellow Rumps kept things moving. From the mid-island
bridge, I could count one Bald Eagle to the north, five Red-Tailed Hawks in
snags along the river, a Peregine south, at least 2 Coopers or Sharpies (too
far off to guess) and saw 3 Harriers including what might be a local pair
since they were flying together. The ducks were mostly Mallards, Teal and a
few Shovelers. On the way back to Seattle, stopped at Bob Heirman Wildlife
Park south of Snohomish and, again, most of the same passarines as Spencer
Island but on the north lake, 7 Snow Geese splashing about after Canada
Geese and paid no attention to by groups of foraging Kildeer, Greater
Yellowlegs, Dunlin and what I believe were Least Sandpiper. A wonderful
autumn day of birding.

Tom Mansfield, Seattle
TMISeattle at MSN.com