Hi Tweets,

The biggest commotion in Edmonds Marsh this morning (7-24-10) came
from 33 Canada Geese that dropped in to enjoy the mud, marsh grasses,
and Willow Creek. The only shorebirds in the Marsh were 15-20
Killdeer and 2 Spotted Sandpipers. One Great Blue Heron was around.
Violet-green Swallow numbers are way down. By far the predominant
swallow is the Barn Swallow. The Purple Martins have not been seen
in the last few days. All of last month's nest-building activity
apparently was in vain. They do not appear to be using the plastic
gourds, for the second year in a row. It's a puzzle. They can go in
and out of the entrance holes, they carry nesting materials, and then
they disappear.

The bird in largest numbers on the waterfront is the Heermann's
Gull. A couple of Caspian Terns were heard this morning. One
Rhinoceros Auklet was seen, as well as a Belted Kingfisher. There
were more fishing boats out on the Sound than there were birds.

The Point Edwards area was the birdiest area but we only saw one
Anna's and one Rufous Hummingbird. There were lots of young Robins,
a young Towhee, a few Red-winged Blackbirds, lots of Cedar Waxwings,
one Orange-crowned Warbler, and one Hairy Woodpecker. The Red-
breasted Woodpeckers have not been seen recently. Lots of other
resident birds were around.

One in our group heard a Bullock's Oriole calling down in the
Hatchery but we could not locate it and it soon stopped vocalizing.
This is about the same time when one was heard there last summer.

Good birding,

Carol Riddell
Edmonds