A shorebird search at the Fill this morning turned up one spotted
sandpiper on the central pond, 5 least sandpipers at the pond at the
southeastern corner, and another seven at the Shoveler pond along with
one western.

It was a fairly quiet morning, with bald eagles as the only raptors and
surprisingly low on passerines - maybe the cool wind had some influence
there. A single orange-crowned made my only warbler for the circuit, so
where were all the yellow-rumped hiding? No sign of the usual house
finches at the E4 parking lot. Plenty of Vaux's swift and tree, barn and
cliff swallows, but violet-green were another surprising miss. The cliff
and barn swallows put on a good show, though, collecting mud at Shoveler
Pond to make up for it.

I heard a Virginia rail at the same southwest pond I saw one earlier in
the year, but it didn't make an appearance this time. The central pond
produced two lingering bufflehead, a cinnamon teal, a couple of
green-winged teal and a lone male greater scaup to go with the mallard
and gadwall. Just 32 species for the Fill.

Afterwards, I took Connie Sidles' advice to check out the Tom Lord trail
behind the Villa Academy. After wandering around the grounds a bit
feeling rather conspicuous and self-conscious, I found the trail tucked
away in the northeast corner. The easiest entrance to use would be the
one on 50th St opposite Nicklas Place, which brings you to the trail on
your left after just a hundred feet or so.

The areas alongside the trail are densely vegetated, with thick
undergrowth and trees of various heights all now in full leaf. This
makes for rather frustrating birding for someone of my skill level, with
lots of song I don't recognise and many partial sightings and rustlings
in the bushes, while I need a bird to sit still in full view for a few
seconds for a confident ID! I didn't have much time to spend there
today, adding only another five species to the day list, including three
male Wilson's warblers. I saw many more warblers as a flash of yellow
and a tail disappearing into the greenery. It looks a good place to go
back to another day when I've got the time, and just sit and wait for
the birds to come to me. Thanks, Connie, for the tip!

In other news, my thistle sock which has hung unwanted and unloved for
two months has taken to sporting a fine pair of pine siskin over the
last three days. Hopefully they'll spread the word and bring friends!

Louise Rutter
Kirkland

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