I visited the Fill today for the first time in two weeks. It sure has change during that period. Shoveler's Pond is almost dry yet it appears that the Southwest Pond as well as the lake is very high. This is my second year at the Fill and as I remember, the lake was much lower this time last year. Must be wet winter we had?

It was pretty birdy this morning and early afternoon. I wanted to see some Pied-billed Grebe hatchlings but it was not to be. The Eagles as well as an Osprey were out looking for breakfast. No unusual birds were observed but there were sure a lot of adolescents flying and swimming around. In some cases they are pretty hard to identify. I also ran into a Turtle preparing a nest to lay eggs. It was interesting watching her sloooooowly dig out her nesting hole. I returned a couple of hours after I first spotted her and the hole was there but no turtle. I don't know if they come back later, or if she was disturbed and abandoned the effort.

Photos of today's outing are located at the site below in the set identified 7/9/08 UBNA.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdhouse_wa/<http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdhouse_wa/>

Doug Parrott
Edmonds Wa.
bird_cage at msn.com<mailto:bird_cage at msn.com>