Hiya tweets.

Went to the Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA) this morning and got some really good action.

First bird I really saw was a Merlin being chased by some American Crows. Soon thereafter, I saw the Merlin chasing a crow in return! Shoulda known some good birds were coming up, because I rarely see MERL's at UBNA, but when I do, I almost always see other good stuff.

Soon thereafter, I heard a non-Canada Goose honk and looked up to see a pair of Greater White-fronted Geese flying over UBNA and then land in Union Bay. First GWFG's I have seen since I believe March here, but this makes at least 3 fall/winters in a row that they have been sighted here.

I checked out a couple of the shoreline areas looking for American Pipits (found a couple) on the muddy areas. Coming back to the main trail I saw a little bird fly up from the grass and then land a few feet away. This was south of the Central Pond, right by the path. I scared the bird up again and knew it wasn't anyone usual. It landed again on the other side of the path, and I got to where I had a good vantage point of where it landed from about 20 feet away. I scanned the spot with my 10x50 Eagle Optics and saw it hunkered down. My notes say: Rufous patch in 2ndaries, bordered by white; yellowish face with dark patch at ear; yellow/brown/black striping on back; white edging in tail. I didn't have my field guide with me (which is why I saw so many good birds), but I have seen Lapland Longspurs before and I was 99% sure of the ID. In a few minutes, I saw a young man named Colin that I have seen birding before and asked him for his field guide. As soon as I told him what
it was I saw and where, we went over with the fellow he was with (father?) and soon found the bird again. (Colin: If you get that one photo online, please send me the link, or send me a copy of the photo if you be so kind. Thanks!).

I was also able to ID some late-season Violet-green Swallows; Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, as well as some Oregon Juncoes (first of season at UBNA, but I had them Wednesday on upper UW campus). There was a Red-tailed Hawk that hung around the fringes most of the morning as well.

One of the best experiences of my morning was sitting on a log next to the almost-dry North Pond (next to the fence at the one area that UW has a bunch of service vehicles). There was only one Mallard in the water, but just a jillion little birds. Turned out to be (estimates all) at least 100 Cedar Waxwings (mostly juvies), 30 or so Yellow-rumped Warblers, all joined by a number of American Goldfinch, Bushtits, Black-capped Chickadees, and Bewick's Wrens. It was peaceful just watching them all flit around me and across the pond, eating berries and taking baths. One very bold little chickadee spotted me but apparently didn't know what I was and landed on a branch 3 feet in front of my face and looked right in my eyes. Then it flew to a twig above my head. Then, the little kid landed directly on top of my head for abput 2 seconds! It took off, and I stayed for another 10 minutes enjoying the scene.

I stuck around the area for a while but that was the best stuff I saw/heard. Overall, I got 44 species down at UBNA today, which is good for this time of year. Good birding y'all!

Brett A. Wolfe
Seattle, WA
m_lincolnii at yahoo.com


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