Up before sunrise for a change, and as circumstance would have, being down on the Everett waterfront, I thought I might get lucky and see a Purple Martin. Along with Caspian Terns and Osprey's, I consider Purple Martins an iconic summer bird at the Everett Waterfront. The nesting Purple Martins (in martin house's on pilings in the Maulsby Mudflats) of Everett had a disastrous year last year. And of course this year is even worse weather-wise it seems - so far anyway.

Today I was lucky - it was dead calm and warm, after the first genuinely warm day of the season yesterday, and I saw several Martins ! There were a pair at the nest box nearest shore in the mass of pilings off the NE corner of the 10th street boat launch parking lot, and about 3 or 4 out around pilings with boxes farther out in the bay. I love their calls.

Like watching many iridescent birds, lighting conditions make all the difference. Today the birds were backlit, but two years ago in the same nearshore pilings I saw a male Martin in perfect afternoon light- what an amazing color!

Jeff Gibson
Everett Wa