Tweeters:

Yesterday was a great day at the refuge. The weather was perfect, and though the bird counts are not high, eight of us enjoyed a fine morning of birding.

Highlights included four of the five swallow species: BARN, TREE, VIOLET-GREEN, and CLIFF. There were many flycatchers, including WILLOW and WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE.

We spotted a BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK behind the parking lot, which turned out to be the only one of the day. A WARBLING VIREO was in some willows on the way to McAllister Creek.

We also saw a YELLOW WARBLER feeding a juvenile COWBIRD.

The immature BALD EAGLE was sitting on the edge of the nest.

Mammals included mink, weasel, deer and eastern grey squirrel.

Total bird species for the day was 42.

Eric Slagle
hannaslagle at comcast.net