Just wondering if they have stuck around?



Thanks

Doug



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Connie
Sidles
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 4:59 PM
To: Tweeters tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Fill news



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 <http://www.constancypress.com/>