I counted 255 Brants from Sunset Avenue yesterday afternoon, dabbling in the shore break and waddling on shore. The afternoon low tides offer a good viewing opportunity. Sanderlings continue to be seen mornings at Marina Beach near the breakwater and can be seen from the public pier with a scope or good binoculars. Bonaparte's Gulls continue to be seen in the off shore waters in small numbers. Continuing sea ducks are Surf and Black Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Buffleheads, and Common and Barrow's Goldeneyes. Right now alcids are limited to Pigeon Guillemots and the occasional Rhinoceros Auklets. We had been seeing several hundred Western Grebes in the far off shore waters but not in the last week.

Yesterday morning two unidentified swallows flew over the Edmonds marsh. These were the first to be seen. Several of us stood watch this morning but none appeared. Last year Tree Swallows passed over the marsh on March 15th and the first Violet-greens arrived on March 27th.

There was a lot of Bald Eagle activity this morning with three birds in the vicinity of the marsh. We also watched the very rapid flight of a Merlin. A Dunlin was feeding in the marsh mud when we arrived. This is the first shorebird of the year in the marsh other than Killdeers and Wilson's Snipe.

The Redhead (code 5) continues to be seen although his companion Athya ducks are now limited to a pair of Ring-necked Ducks. A Eurasian Wigeon (code 3) drake was seen in the Edmonds marsh on March 5th, 15th, and 16th. One of the Common Ravens (code 3) was seen on March 13th and a Merlin (code 2) was seen on March 14th in a south Edmonds neighborhood. The Western Meadowlark (code 4) was seen near the marsh on March 11th and 13th. There have been more recent sightings as well. A Red-breasted Sapsucker (code 2) was at the Willow Creek Hatchery on March 12th and again on March 23rd. Purple Finches (code 3) were heard singing in the tree tops at Southwest County Park on March 20th. A first-of-year Rufous Hummingbird (code 2) came to a north Edmonds feeder on March 17th. They usually arrive in public areas of the Edmonds Bowl sometime in April. California Quail (code 3) sightings are increasing a bit around the marsh.

A first-of-year Marsh Wren showed up on March 16th at the hatchery end of the marsh. By the next morning Marsh Wrens were seen and heard singing throughout the marsh. They are now harvesting cattail down for nests. We are at 105 species for the year.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds, Wa