Hey tweets, I had decided not to bird the Fill today because of the
heat. I was sitting at home, with a cool fan blowing on me, my feet
up, and a glass of cold juice in hand when I made the mistake of
looking at my email. Doug Parrott sent me a photo of a Solitary
Sandpiper on Main Pond - first of year. I got his email at noon, the
worst possible time of day to drag yourself out birding. But what else
could I do? When a bird calls to you, you answer the call, because are
you a birder, or what?

So, in the greatest heat of the year, heat so horrible it rivaled
Arizona's (because, you know, we have more humidity), heat so
debilitating the crows were squatting in what little shade was
available, with their beaks open, ready to keel over, I ventured forth.

Sure enough, on Main Pond was the Solitary Sandpiper. Actually 2
Solitaries, a Spotted, 5 Westerns, and something else a little
different. I thought possibly a Baird's, but the bird was pretty jumpy
and I never got a definitive look at it. It seemed taller than the
Westerns, and it did have an elongated look to it. I just couldn't
quite make out whether the wings extended past the tail. It did have
grayish legs, a somewhat scaly back, longish bill for its size,
slightly decurved, and very white underparts. I didn't see any rufous
on the upperparts.

So if anyone wants to brave the weather this evening, I think most of
these birds are still present. They were when I left, at any rate, and
none seemed very interested in flapping. I certainly wasn't.

By the way, thanks to all who responded so quickly to my request for
funds to establish a feeding station at the Youth Farm shed. I now
have enough money to buy 3 feeders and the first installment of seeds.
Many, many thanks for your generosity! - Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com
www.constancypress.com
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