This is late, but not sure timeliness is of the essence here. After more
than a week of not observing Townsend's Warbler, we were lucky enough to spot
it (or one anyway - don't know whether to assume it is the same one) last
weekend on our suet at a time when the lady of the house could finally enjoy it
too. Males had admired it several times previously, beginning back around
Thanksgiving. Pretty as a picture.

I should have added to my prior note on Fill visit that my impetuous rush to
car stalled upon faint low "garrumph" sound from swampy inlet along far east
side of main loop trail. I wasn't sure what to make of it, thinking Bittern
but not knowing what else it could have been (marsh flatulence?). It was a
distant relative of the unexpectedly un-birdy sounds I hear frequently in the
Cascades and know just enough to grouse about (I'm not going near Sooty etc.
issue here).

Unfortunately, despite requisite period of immobility (OK, it was nowhere
near 15 minutes, I admit), I was unable to pick up on any movement other than
very small unmarked bird that made me think of dipper but given locale was
prob. a bushtit. Actually, from what I have read of Bitterns, maybe lack of
sighting is just what I should be counting. Proof negative? Sigh. There's
something interesting out there in that marsh!

Thanks to the many generous Tweeters who replied off-line in support of
prior Fill post. A community indeed.

paul johanson
North Beach (Ballard)