Hi Tweets,

There was not a lot of activity on the Sound this morning (6-20-10),
as is usual at this time of year. The Purple Martins continue to
take nesting materials to the plastic gourds, underneath the perched
Bald Eagles. Several Caspian Terns were flying north and a few
Rhinoceros Auklets were heading south. Other than a couple of Pigeon
Guillemots, there were no other alcids about. But we enjoyed
spotting a scout Heermann's Gull on the marina's south breakwater.
their customary perching location when they arrive in greater
numbers. This is the same date on which last year's scout Heermann's
arrived. The marsh was fairly quiet other than a lot of Violet-green
Swallows swirling about feeding. The birdiest spot this morning was
the Point Edwards public path. Lots of feeding activity as the
berries are coming out on the native plants such as twinberry and
serviceberry. I was impressed with the large number of Rufous
Hummingbirds, particularly the females. I watched several courtship
dives by the males. The Willow Flycatcher was in the bushes to the
west of the small pond. There were two baby Mallards, still
fuzzballs, on the pond with a dead one floating in the middle. There
was no sign of a Mallard Hen, although some were on the ponds below
and on the south side of the marsh. I can't think that the two
Mallard chicks will be long for this world in the absence of the
hen. There must have been 7-8 female Purple Finches and at least one
male.

Public Pier

Bald Eagle (2 ad.)
Heermann's Gull (1)
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Caspian Tern
Pigeon Guillemot
Rhinoceros Auklet
Rock Pigeon
Purple Martin

Marsh

Mallard
Killdeer
Crow
Purple Martin
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Starling
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch

Hatchery/Point Edwards

Gadwall
Mallard
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker (1)
Northern Flicker (2)
Willow Flycatcher (1)
Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Bushtit
Robin
Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Good birding,

Carol Riddell