On both Friday and Saturday (6/ 8, 9 ) afternoon I stopped off at Fields Riffle (just downstream from Snohomish) for a brief snoop. On both stops I saw two bright male Lazuli Buntings in and around the hayfields at the entry road. They're easy to spot in the hedgerows of blackberry, or in willows along the dike. This is the third year straight I've seen them here (in July the previous years). Saturdays birds were busy singing away, along with the many Yellowthroats there. The hayfields are full of Savannah Sparrows which I like particularly for their insect-like song. In the cottonwoods over the dike were calling Pewee's and across the river Swainsons Thrush were singing - sounds like Summer.

On Friday the whole length of the Lowell -Snohomish River road was busy with Vaux's Swifts overhead - headed to Monroe maybe.

And over the River Road Ponds a large flapping bird which I assumed was an eagle at first ,turned out to be a Turkey Vulture flapping to get away from a super-pesky Red-wing Blackbird. I haven't seen a Vulture flap that much very often. Soon it got off to where it could soar in peace.

Jeff Gibson
Everett Wa