Hey tweets, today was kind of quiet at the Fill, but maybe that's just because I've kind of become accustomed to seeing mega-rarities there lately. Thinking that maybe it's time to get re-acquainted with the regulars, I spent half an hour today listening to two dueling Song Sparrows. One of them had a very complex, beautiful song, consisting of a three-note overature sung lentamente, followed by three notes in quick time, finishing with a series of trills and a light, percussive squawk, repeated with variations on a theme. Listening to his concert was like sitting on a balcony on a balmy morning, sipping champagne and waiting for the servants to bring the hand-sculpted melon balls. His rival a dozen trees away sang a song (if you can call it that) more suited to beer and pretzels: just four raucous notes, repeated over and over again.

Although I am not a sparrow, as a female I can say both songs had their appeal, the one sublime, the other silly. We need both in this life.

Also on view today, Caspian Terns diving into the lake after fish, then rising again into the sky to briefly shake off the water, before trying again. A lot of effort for a little fish, but so beautiful to watch. Here is a poem for you today:

Hoarse cries above.
Terns have come to plunge for fish
like spears cast by Poseidon,
though such gods are far from us now
in time and faith.

- Connie, Seattle


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