Subject: [Tweeters] Fill update
Date: Aug 12 06:17:44 2009
From: Connie Sidles - constancesidles at gmail.com


Hey tweets, yesterday we experienced the biggest fallout I've seen at
the Fill in years. I got down there just after the rain stopped,
around 9:30 a.m., and found the alder grove just south of the signage
on Wahkiakum Lane almost dripping with passerines. From the top of the
highest branches to the grass below there were birds in every leaf
cluster. Among my favorites:
Warbling Vireos (among which, one baby rattling its wings and crying
for food, indicating breeding at the Fill)
Orange-crowned Warblers
Yellow Warblers (too many to count)
Black-throated Gray Warblers (note the plural)
Vaux's Swifts coming through
Tree, Violet-green, and Barn Swallows
empid flycatchers - not vocalizing, so I can't be sure; I think one
was a Willow Flycatcher, another a Western Wood-pewee, and maybe a
Gray - it was flicking its tail downward but I couldn't see a very
prominent eye-ring.

On the Main Pond were 21 Least Sandpipers (!), one very vocal Long-
billed Dowitcher, and the resident Spotted Sandpipers.

Today may see a similar phenomenon. It rained in the night, and it's
still showery now. If you can catch a break in the weather, I urge you
to get out into the field and see what turns up. -