The seasonal ponds on Smith Island (on 12th st NE just north of Everett Sewage Ponds) continue to be interesting for shorebirds. On Sunday saw both Yellowlegs again, along with Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer, and 3 or 4 peeps with black legs - Westerns I would guess by bill length - just out of bino range. Seems like a pretty good shorebird count for June.

Today stopped off briefly at the Ebey Slough Dike off the end of Fobes Road. This remains a great place to see Eastern Kingbirds- saw four again today. I must have been near the nest of one pair as they were very agitated. One of them seemed sorely tempted to put a dent in my furry head, but changed it's mind at the last minute.

An interesting juxtaposition of birds perched in a 5 foot diameter space in a Elderberry snag- an Eastern Kingbird, a Downy Woodpecker, and a Cedar Waxwing. The freshwater ponds out here are drying up rapidly, exposing lots more mud, but Killdeers and Spotted Sandpiper (heard) the only shorebirds so far that I've seen.

Driving home to Everett on the Hwy 2 trestle, I was rewarded with the sight of one of my favorite seasonal Rites, the blooming of the White Bog Orchids, the showy white spires of which are now sticking up out of the dense 'hardhack' (Spirea dougalsii, ect) swamps north of the westbound lanes. The trestle gives a nice 'aerial view'. Close inspection of these vegetables would require a serious expedition at ground level due to the brush. Of course botanizing from a moving vehicle is risky too - best have a designated driver, or manage to get stuck in the morning westbound commute for best views.

Jeff Gibson, Everett Wa