Subject: [Tweeters] observations at the Fill today
Date: Apr 15 18:43:20 2009
From: Byers - byers345 at comcast.net


Hi, Tweeters,

It was so beautiful this afternoon that Bill and I couldn't
resist the call of the Montlake Fill. We looked for, but didn't find, the
Chipping Sparrow Connie Sidles mentioned seeing yesterday. In its place
were dozens of beautiful Savannah Sparrows twittering from every small bush
and clump of grass. As we approached Shoveler Pond, Bill noticed a number
of small birds at the water's edge. I thought they might be shorebirds, but
they were American Pipits. All together there were about 15, sometimes
wading into the water, but mostly poking around in the grass and mud near
the pond. I know people were seeing them last week, but this was the first
time I'd found them.

The other interesting observation was at the "swallow snag" near
the South Pond. On it we found four species of swallow at once:
Violet-green, Cliff, Barn, and Tree all sitting together convivially. That
might be a record for number of swallow species on one tree for me! The
Tree Swallows are the only ones I've seen acting like they might nest there
or in any of the Fill nest boxes.

Happy birding,

Charlotte Byers, Seattle