Hey tweets, Surber extravagantly rewarded patience today at the Fill
by producing a singing VARIED THRUSH and the most gorgeous WHITE-
THROATED SPARROW I have ever seen. The thrush was in the tall
cottonwoods, and the sparrow was near the four yellow posts, eating
tree blossoms from a fruit tree that brushes against the tall hedge
marking the UBNA boundary on the south. The sparrow was in pristine
breeding plumage and looked terrific.

Also present at Surber: Bushtits building a nest out in plain view;
Winter Wrens singing; Spotted Towhees everywhere; and Steller's Jays
(which tend to become quiet and secretive at the Fill about now).
There are Wood Ducks in the watery pools that have been created by the
high lake levels, and Cinnamon Teal as well. I sometimes find Brown
Creepers in here, and I'm still hoping for warblers and grosbeaks.

I'll probably go back to the Fill for Round 2 later this afternoon,
but be warned. There is an orchid show at the CUH, so parking is
difficult. There is also some kind of Air Force event in the field
near the helipad, so that's creating a lot of traffic and noise. Maybe
by dinnertime, things will have quieted down a bit on this perfect
spring day with no wind, no rain, no snow, no fog, no hail, no
freezing temperatures - all conditions I have endured lo these many
winter months. - Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com