Checked out the ponds on Smith Island today (12th street NE ) and it was pretty quiet birdwise. I did see 8 Greater Yellowlegs however, being quite noisy. A single Killdeer was the only other shorebird about. A beautiful male Harrier glided by.

Stopped by the Everett Sewage Ponds and walked out to the Spencer Island bridge. Very quiet there also. After a few months of rain the male Ruddy Ducks are now rusting. Not too many Ruddys about today though. Saw a pair of Wood Ducks in the diked freshwater marsh. Red wing Blackbirds, and Marsh Wrens singing were the background music- heard a Virginia Rail briefly. A who's who of usual ducks about - all in small numbers. No swallows !

Jeff Gibson, Everett Wa