Hey tweets, I have often felt that the birds at the Fill don't really
conform to the standard operating procedures of birds elsewhere, at
least when it comes to early rising. Fill birds tend to like to sleep
in. The dawn chorus for them might more properly be called a brunch
chorus.

This was certainly true today. I got down there shortly after dawn,
although the sky was so dark, who could really tell? A few of the
regulars were out and about: some ambitious Yellow-rumped Warblers, a
couple of oversexed Spotted Towhees, and the like. The Cliff Swallows
that have been around for a few days now decided not to greet this day
at all; they were not to be found.

So there I was, sitting like Patience on the Rock - or in my case, on
the camp stool - waiting for something to happen and wishing that I
had returned to my five-layer-winter-clothing plan rather than my more
optimistic two-layer-spring-is-here-look. Finally, something did
happen. Around 11:00 a.m. Doug Parrott came hurrying up with his
camera, saying he wanted to show me something. I have to confess I
have come to dread these little visits from Doug. They always mean
that he has found a great bird that I will then spend hours
fruitlessly looking for. The last time he did this to me was when he
found a Bonaparte's Gull on the Main Pond, the first Bonaparte's at
the Fill in perhaps 15 years. After he showed me the picture, I
scurried as fast as I could go to the pond, but alas, it was gull-
less. Today, Doug's find was a California Quail. He took a glorious
picture of it perched spang out in the open on the "Reading Rock"
southeast of the Main Pond. I immediately ditched my husband, who had
walked out to share a quiet, romantic moment with me, and hurried off.
I could hear John explaining to Doug, as my slipstream buffeted them,
that I was a goner for at least the next hour.

So true. I did manage to hear Doug's bird calling as it headed west,
so at least I wasn't totally scuppered, but I've had more inspiring
moments in my life. Feeling a little bummed out by my lack of bird-
location skills, I wandered over to the Dime Parking Lot and leaned
moodily against my car, ala James Dean. Luckily, my neck got stiff
from looking down so much, and when I straightened up, there above my
head was a circling Turkey Vulture! (I decline to comment on what the
vulture might have been hoping for, with me slumped against my car.)
Off in the distance was another Turkey Vulture, even higher. They were
both heading north in graceful arcs against the cloudy sky.

Also on view today: a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds, numerous
Audubon's and Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warblers coming into full breeding
plumage, a Winter Wren singing a symphony in Surber grove, and a Sharp-
shinned Hawk hunting over the CUH area. Another great day, even though
I had to wait a while before the Fill delivered. It always does, you
know. - Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com