The kids got up this morning wanting to, as they put it, "hike the dikes!"

So, with kids and dog in tow, we walked the shortish loop at the managed
hunting area (I'm sure there's an official name for it, I just don't know
what it is).

We were greeted, as we made the turn toward the parking areas, by a HUGE
flock of pipits, all of whom seemed determined to stand around in the road,
wagging their little tails, and even when I rolled the car forward they just
stood there. I had to give them a little "blat!" on the horn, which
scattered them. The kids were astonished that I could make an ID on about
three tenths of a second of view (white tail feathers, bird size/habitat,
one sitting with tail wagging: a no-brainer).

Since we had the dog, our birding on site was not very good. I was struck by
how few raptors we saw: only one immature bald eagle, a probable merlin on a
mission, and a quick look at a hovering marsh hawk. Harrier. Whatever
they're called these days. Heck, I saw at least twenty red-tails on the
drive UP there. Strange to see so few during the day.

There were LOTS of yellow warblers belting out their song, and a fair number
of yellowthroats also singing but as usual unwilling to be seen. Marsh wrens
abounded, and a sort of strange pair of black-headed grosbeaks -- it seems
like odd habitat for them, to me, but maybe not?

The rufous hummingbirds were ubiquitous and quite aggressive; their chases
often passed within two or three feet of our heads. A fine drizzle fell
nearly the whole time, but so what? The pipits were still there as we left,
along with a couple of killdeer.

The dog rolled in God knows what, forcing us to have the windows open all
the way back to Seattle. Another fine family outing!

Best,

Josh Hayes, josh at blarg dot net