On Jun 15, 2012, at 2:22 PM, Connie Sidles wrote:

> and a Western Kingbird catching bugs from the fence around the weather station.

At 11am there were three WESTERN KINGBIRDS in view at the same time: two on the chain link fence south of the greenhouses behind the CUH (the Douglas Research Conservatory) and one sallying from the "orchard" behind the CUH. You can see them from Union Bay Circle.

WESTERN WOOD-PEEWEE in the shrubbery north of the SW Pond.

Another Contopus/Empid flycatcher was seen flycatching over the University Slough. On the river side of the trees so I never did get a good look fromt he road to ID it.

Two WESTERN TANAGERS singing ("bird alert") at Connibear Shellhouse (by the motor launch shed). There is a WHITE CROWNED SPARROW still being territorial at Connibear Shellhouse too (and none by Serber Grove).

CINNAMON TEAL male on the Central Pond (though he decamped to Lake Washington after an interaction with a couple of Gadwalls).

Two RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS heard as they flew by (one in Serber Grove and one on the Fill proper) and one seen (the grove north of Wahkiakum Lane).

The VIGINIA RAIL seem to be both vocal and showing themselves. One the Slough (south of the bridge) one went through the standard set of "field guide views: appears walking on lilypads in front quarter view, turning slowly to give side on view and finally turning away and between the vegetation to give the rear "thin as a rail" view. Other's have seen them this week running across the paths by the SW Pond and hearing them at the SE Pond.

KILLDEAR are in E5 (one pair driving off another today). BREWER'S BLACKBIRD males and females are in the Connibear Shellhouse wetland. Both have been missing on the last few visits for me and both are breeding perhaps.

I dipped on the LAZULI BUNTING mentioned on the whiteboard just as I did (and four others did too) on Monday.

Only raptor seen today was an OSPREY (three with some interesting interactions).

Total of 39 species seen.

On Jun 15, 2012, at 2:22 PM, Connie Sidles wrote:

> Numerous gulls have been floating on the lake, I guess catching small fish. They mostly look like immatures, but I don't have the optics to identify which species are out there.

Adult and sub-adult Ring-billed Gulls on the lake from the ones I got a look at. I also saw Adult & sub-adult Ring-billed Gulls, adult Glaucous-winged and adult Glaucous-winged x Western in flight. Mostly looking like in mid-molt with raggy flight feathers.

The crows are fishing for the spawned out sticklebacks.

When nearing midday with fewer birds to see there are a few interesting butterflies out there too: a beautiful female CHECKERSPOT (VARIABLE CHECKERSPOT? EDITH'S CHECKERSPOT? I wasn't carrying my butterfly field guide), LORQUINS ADMIRAL, WESTERN SWALLOWTAIL and some WHITES.
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Kevin Purcell (Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA)
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