Connie and Tweets,

As they say in real estate "location, location, location."? But the other critical aspect, both in real estate AND birding, is that "timing is everything!"

We got to the fill about 11:00 am or so and could not find a warbler or vireo.? Granted, the heat drained our patience but it was fairly quiet by the time we got there.? And the wind had picked up so that ALL of the leaves were moving so that seeing a moving bird was nearly impossible until it left the tree it was hiding in.? Take Connie's suggestion to heart and go early and bring a stool.? ;-)? As we arrived, others were just leaving and they warned us it was all quiet at the fill following the very busy early morning.

Our most notable bird was a WESTERN KINGBIRD flycatching in the middle of the burn area.? A PB Grebe with a very small offspring swam amongst the lily pads.? Chickadees called and a Northern Flicker flew over.? Barn Swallows swooped overhead and cowbirds flew from tree to tree.? One mystery sparrow that looked like a bird of interest did not give us decent looks to ID it before flying away.

We will have to plan better next time!
?


Bruce Jones
Shoreline, WA/Wilmington, NC




-----Original Message-----
From: Connie Sidles <constancesidles at gmail.com>
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Wed, Aug 19, 2009 9:38 am
Subject: [Tweeters] URGENT: Fill Warbler alert









Hey tweets, I just got back from the Fill to report a huge warbler influx happening right now. Best sighting: a TENNESSEE WARBLER in the alder grove immediately south of the signage at the east start of Wahkiakum Lane.?
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Also in that grove and in the Wedding Rock glade: a MACGILLIVRAY'S singing and gleaning. Also present in the same area:?

Black-throated Gray Warbler; numerous Orange-crowned Warblers; several Yellow Warblers.?
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In addition to warblers: Warbling Vireos, Brown Creepers, and the usual Black-capped Chickadees, Bewick's Wrens, Anna's Hummingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker.?
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This has been one of the hottest sites for passerines this fall. Yesterday, a flock of Black-headed Grosbeaks came through here, along with Orange-crowned and Yellow Warblers and Warbling Vireos.?
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I've been getting down to the Fill just after dawn for the past week, mainly to check for crepuscular birds. The alder grove is generally quiet at this hour. I would guess that the insects don't rev up until the sun hits the tops of the trees. Then, in the hours before the sun heats the air and stirs the wind, the birding has been fabulous here. The leaves are still and you can see every little motion as the birds hop from branch to leaf bunch. You can even see hummingbirds agitate the leaves when they land on a branch, despite the fact that they are so small they might almost be said to have negative weight. It can get so active with leaf-hops that you don't know where to look first. I tend to make poor choices, often following a chickadee instead of a warbler, but even I find the warblers eventually, since there are so many. I urge you to bring a camp stool and enjoy the show. - Connie, Seattle?
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constancesidles at gmail.com?

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