We got a p-patch in the Magnuson Park community garden last year. This
spring, with fingers crossed, we raised nine eggplants from seed and have
pampered those little guys under fluorescent lights and occasional visits
outdoors when the weather was warm and sunny -- so not very often -- since
mid March. Yesterday, they went into the ground. This morning, I wanted to
see if they survived the night and brought my binoculars along.

After confirming that the plants had survived the night, I walked via the
off-leash area to its intersection with the main north-south road along the
lake. In the first stand of trees on the main road, just south of that
intersection and on the west side of the trail, I spotted a bird with a very
white belly and long bill which turned out to be a Red-eyed Vireo! I
watched it dispatch and gobble up a worm so I assume it isn't yet nesting --
perhaps just passing through.

A flotilla of Canada Geese sailed into the swimming area -- 6 adults and 18
half-grown goslings -- and moved onto the grass to feed. The duck world is
down Gadwalls -- one pair was enjoying a puddle at home plate on one of the
playfields -- and Mallards.

I passed eight Savannah Sparrows perched atop stems and small bushes in
areas that have taller grasses, buzzing their songs to the winds. Just
after passing a sign next to the main north-south road by the lake,
explaining that these sparrows use the tall grassy areas for nesting, I
spotted a woman with her dog off its leash and charging into one of these
areas. I ended up having a brief (and, thankfully, cordial) conversation
with her about the birds' needs at this time of the year and to my delight,
she put her dog back on the leash. She also recalled how much she had
enjoyed seeing Pileated Woodpeckers in the Promontory Point area some years
ago. They are long gone from there now.

The flat areas of the park were alive with Goldfinches calling overhead,
countless Robins, Towhees, House Finches, and Barn and Tree Swallows
swooping under the darkening (and then raining) clouds. Crows were
everywhere. In the treed areas to the south and on Promontory Point, a
flock of Bushtits was moving through the trees. I saw Black-capped
Chickadees and Song Sparrows as I went up the hill and heard (but never saw)
Cedar Waxwings. An Anna's Hummingbird was in its usual spot in the more
open area at the top of the hill.

A nice morning.

Vicki King
View Ridge, Seattle
vkbirder at gee-mail dot com
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