Hi Tweets:
I birded at Zenith, about 1.5 mile south of the Des Moines Marina for about a half hour today starting at 1pm. Pretty low tide for this time of year, minus 0.5 ft. There were approx. 180 Brant visible just to the north of the Zenith Access viewing platform along the sandy beach. It was sunny, and there was not much wind. Brant really like that. When they flew they quacked which sounded low like a honk. The Zenith Access is at the bottom of S 239th, just below the "castle" which is called Landmark on the Sound.
There were 4 Harlequin Ducks. Approx. 30 Surf Scoters. A few Common and Barrow's Goldeneyes. 2 or 3 Horned Grebes starting to get the yellow color on their cheeks that is the start of their "horns". Two Common Loons.
Up here in my yard there are 3 pretty active Yellow-rumped Warblers calling. The one I saw was an Audubon's. One Butterbutt was singing.
Purple Finches are in the neighborhood singing quite a lot. They arrived back just when the fruit trees started to bloom.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines