Hey tweets, in the aftermath of the season's first Husky home football
game, the gulls and the Winnebagos were out in force this morning in
the parking lot, along with a gazillion crows. The gulls were busy
trying to stay just ahead of two ginormous garbage trucks and an army
of garbage picker-uppers who were trying to disappear all the garbage
as quickly as possible. Human behavior has got to be almost completely
inexplicable to birds, but this particular behavior is probably the
most baffling, at least to gulls. Why on earth would you want to
scrape up perfectly edible garbage and bury it in trucks that would
haul it away? Among the inquiring minds that want to know was one
California Gull, along with innumerable Glaucous-winged and Ring-billed.

I wanted to get away from all the human noise, so I walked down the
service road from Connibear and set up my camp stool across from the
Lagoon, searching for the Cinnamon Teals who hatched out here this
year. They are still present, but also present today was a PECTORAL
SANDPIPER. It was foraging on the itty bitty spit of mud island in the
middle of the Lagoon. The crows perched in the snag above took a
dislike to this little guy, and one crow peeled off and went after
him. The sandpiper disappeared going east, but about 15 minutes later
he reappeared on the same little spit. Another crow attacked, and off
went the sandpiper, only to return a while later. The food must be
exceptionally good on that spit!

Also present today:
A VESPER SPARROW in the flock of goldfinches and Savannahs in Hunn
Meadow East between the Lone Pine Tree and Boy Scout Pond. This area
is a good one to keep an eye out for longspurs, I think.

A flock of five BAND-TAILED PIGEONS at Surber.

Two WESTERN GREBES near the shellhouse (I missed these, but several
birders told me they were right there!).

Two NORTHERN PINTAILS on the Lagoon.

A PEREGRINE FALCON pestering all and sundry, taking turns with the two
juvenile COOPER'S HAWKS who have been here for some weeks now.

So many Vaux's Swifts, Barn Swallows, and one Violet-green that the
sky looked like poppy seed bread. A great day. - Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com
www.constancypress.com



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