Hi Tweeters -
After many unsuccessful tries for the Swamp Sparrow at the Montlake
Fill (Seattle), today I got lucky and was rewarded with brief views.
That little guy is redefining the meaning of skulker.

Otherwise, the Fill has been very birdy lately with returning
migrants - American Pipits are around - today I only saw a couple,
but there have been 20+ on some mornings this week. Every morning
this week I've heard Orange-crowned Warblers, though I'm still
without a sighting there....4 species of swallow are present in good
numbers, and this week a few N.Rough-winged Swallows have been mixed
in as well. Still waiting for shorebirds to pop up....

What follows are directions to the Swamp Sparrow spot - First
Connie's concise version, then a wordier description :


>
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>From: Constance Sidles <constancesidles at gmail.com>
>Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:52:10 -0700
>
>Best bird: a SWAMP SPARROW (found south of the CUH building, where
>the field stretches south to the swamp and the treeline - at the
>southwestern-most cottonwood tree, there is a fallen-down giant
>tree, now covered with brambles and brush. The sparrow was hopping
>around on the brambles in plain view at 7:30 a.m.


Walking on Wahkiakum lane from the CUH past the garden, turn left
[south] before you get to the row/grove of Cottonwoods that divides the
main part of the Fill from the field behind the CUH. There is a small
slough/stream that runs underneath this row of cottonwoods. This expands
into a swampy area at the furthest south edge of the field.

Today the Swamp Sparrow was along the stream/slough, close to where the
swampiness begins. Monday or Tuesday I caught a glimpse of what was
probably the Swamp Sparrow in the same general area, but a little
further into the swamp & away from the stream.

I think it probably ranges pretty widely along that swampy area and
stream. As an added bonus, it has never seemed to care one whit about
the tape being played, and I have yet to hear even one chip note out of
it.

Good birding,

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA