Subject: [Tweeters] Montlake Fill on Saturday morning
Date: Jun 6 18:18:47 2009
From: Kevin Purcell - kevinpurcell at pobox.com
Montlake Fill was very quiet both for birds and birders this morning.
Aside from a flock of fledgling birders I bumped into only a couple
of other birders between 8am and 11am.
More AMERICAN CROWS seen hovering and fishing over the lake and at
the UW Small Boat Center. This time I confirmed they are catching
small dead fish from the surface of the water. The fish are silvery
and perhaps 3" long (somewhat longer than a crows bill).
I saw a pair WOOD DUCKS on the walk in past the shellhouse and a
larger group (8?) out on the Lake to the SE of the Fill
Plenty of (breeding?) insects swarming just over the tree tops today
seemed to bring out the swallows and a swift today. The usual
collection of Swallow seen (BARN SWALLOW, TREE SWALLOW, and at least
one CLIFF SWALLOW) by the SW Pond along with a single VAUX'S SWIFT.
To the east of the Cottonwoods a larger mixed flock of swallows and
at least three VAUX'S SWIFTS. The swifts here were particularly vocal
chattering to each other. Despite looking I didn't see (and other
birders I asked) hadn't seen any BLACK SWIFTS.
There was a CINNAMON TEAL on the Central Pond. And one of the
swallows eating over the lake was a CLIFF SWALLOW.
On Shoveler's Pond these was a female NORTHER SHOVELER with 8 chicks
in tow.
An amorous CEDAR WAXWINGS threesome were flirting around the SW pond.
A couple of COMMON YELLOWTHROAT appeared as the only warblers seen.
Along with AMERICAN GOLDFINCH this was the only burst of color today.
There was not much up in Serber Grove except for a rather miffed
SPOTTED TOWHEE and a HAIRY WOODPECKER annoying some robins.
Another birder I bumped into on my way off the Fill saw both a
CASPIAN TERN over the lake and GREEN-BACKED HERON in transit across
the Fill. I dipped on both of these (even though I was looking for
the heron as it seems to have been mentioned a few times now).
--
Kevin Purcell
kevinpurcell at pobox.com