Subject: [Tweeters] The Fill, the glorious Fill
Date: Jul 9 15:29:13 2011
From: Connie Sidles - constancesidles at gmail.com


Hey tweets, fall migration is in full swing at the Fill, and it is
glorious. We had 33 (!) Least Sandpipers on Main Pond yesterday, and a
Greater Yellowlegs the day before. That is more shorebirds in one day
than we had all spring. Also here for the fall yesterday were a
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and an early Green-winged Teal.

Today I had the unexpected pleasure of looking straight up into the
eyes of a Black Swift, as it hovered like an angel over my head. Black
Swifts had been coming down from the mountains regularly in June, on
those cold, dank days when the Cascades were socked in with mist and
cloud. But today? Today all was blue sky and warmth. No reason for the
swifts to fly all the way down here from their mountain aeries, and
yet here they were.

Also on view today were two Caspian Terns fishing in the lake. On Main
Pond, the Cinnamon Teal family of three ducklings and a watchful mom
came all the way down from the north end to forage among the willows
almost at my feet. The youngsters are growing into teenagers. They're
at that awkward stage when their bills are too large for their bodies,
and their adult feathers are beginning to sprout in gangly patches
that look very odd indeed among the fluffy yellow feathers of
babyhood. It's fun to watch them grow a little bigger and more adult
every day.

The Willow Flycatcher who likes to perch on the little snags just
north and east of Boy Scout Pond was there again this morning, FITZ-
bewing his serenade for all to hear. I love that guy. He's so
unmelodious and so uncaring about his tunelessness. An example for all
us singers-in-the-shower.

Finally, a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was perched in the Lone Pine Tree
supremely indifferent to all passers-by, including birders and a
couple of Anna's who were almost directly in its face. I have never
seen such an insouciant raptor. Seen in profile, its outline exhibited
a huge potbelly, so maybe it was too full of rat to want to move. -
Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com
www.constancypress.com


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