Hey tweets, stormy weather brought great birds to the Fill today. The
highlight was a LESSER YELLOWLEGS on the main pond. It was feeding
beside a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, which was being harassed by a RUDDY
DUCK. The duck really had it in for the dowitcher. It would sneak up
on the poor thing when the dowitcher's back was turned and give it a
chomp to make it jump. The duck didn't bother the yellowlegs - just the
dowitcher, who must have been wearing the avian version of a "Kick me"
sign, because when the dowitcher wandered into the brush on the east
shore to continue feeding, a VIRGINIA RAIL crept out and gave it a
bite, too. Then the rail turned tail and ran off before the dowitcher
could retaliate.

Other fine-feathered features today:
Hooded Merganser on the lake
Green Heron on Union Bay
Caspian Tern fishing over the lake
Cinnamon Teals in eclipse near Ravenna Slough, providing a good
exercise in identification. - Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com