Hey tweets, More times than we ever deserve, birding gives us thrills,
chills, and sometimes spills (!), especially at the Fill. Today was one
of those perfect fall days when the sun gilds the autumn leaves for a
brief time, and then the clouds move in. Many people around the country
would think the second half of today would be a downgrade from the
first half, but true Seattleites know that clouds are every bit as
beautiful as sunshine, especially with a backdrop of silvery lake,
snowy mountains, late-blooming flowers, and weeds gone to seed.

The birds were out in droves today, despite the fact that raptors were
everywhere: Merlin, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, and
(best bird of all): NORTHERN SHRIKE. Yes, the shrike reported yesterday
is still around today. It is a brownish juvenile with scarcely any face
mask, but beautifully colored nonetheless. It arrived this morning from
somewhere south of the Fill, flying into the dead birch snags at the
south end, where the loop trail goes straight east and west, between
the main pond and the southwest pond. I was sitting on my camp stool on
the trail when it flew in, perched briefly, and then returned from
whence it came. I nabbed a passing cyclist and asked him to track down
my friend Doug, who had headed north toward Wahkiakum Lane. The cyclist
was very obliging, telling me that if he couldn't find Doug where I
thought he had gone, the cyclist would circle the entire Fill looking
for him. Note to self: who needs to slog all over notifying other
birders of sightings when kindly joggers and cyclists are so willing to
carry messages?

Doug showed up within five minutes, and together we waited for the
shrike to reappear. It did, flying into the mound-y bush across the
slough immediately south of the birch snag. This is where the
Loggerhead Shrike appeared earlier in the year. Neither shrike
appreciated being looked at, though, so this month's model soon took
off over for the curly willow tree south of the main pond. From there,
it flitted pretty much all over the Fill. I saw it on the main pond,
and it appeared twice among the trees that overhang the loop trail just
north of the point (where one of the cottonwoods fell down earlier in
the year and is now providing wonderful habitat - this is at the
temporary pond where the solitary sandpiper was seen).

Other birds of note today: Western Meadowlark (field between the main
pond and southwest pond), Spotted Sandpiper (on the lagoon west and
south of the southwest pond), Wilson's Snipe (southwest pond),
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (downed cottonwood tree, same area as shrike),
and a huge flock of Cedar Waxwings (same place as the shrike and
warbler - this little area was just stuffed with birds today).

I've been going to the Fill often for many years now, always with a
sense of anticipation. You never know what you'll find. When you find a
treasure like I did today, it's enough to keep your spirit soaring for
weeks.- Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com