Hey tweets, a gagglet of Greater White-fronted Geese (3 to be exact) has been hanging out with a large Canada Goose flock for the past few days. The flock likes to graze near the helipad in the early morning and then either flies to the marina to dabble or breaks up into smaller groups, at which point, it's almost impossible to relocate the White-fronteds. This is the largest number of Greater White-fronteds we've seen at the Fill in many a year.

Green Herons have been much in evidence lately, foraging and flying from the Turtle Logs to Main Pond to SW Pond. At least one is a juvenile, so we had some nesting success this year. I'm always glad when that happens. The Fill, you know, was the site of the first Washington breeding record, back in 1938.

In other news, the Yellow-rumped Warblers are back, though still in small numbers.

Increasing numbers of winter ducks are appearing (to make up for our loss of summer ducks and songbirds): American Wigeons, Green-winged Teals, Ring-necked Ducks, and Northern Shovelers.

The Double-crested Cormorants are back to roosting in the tall cottonwoods along the Montlake Cut in the evening and early morning, when they aren't clinging precariously to the light standards over the baseball diamond - always a miracle they can stick onto such chrome-like surfaces.

Lastly, I'd like to remind you all that Friends of Yesler Swamp and UW Botanic Gardens are celebrating a ribbon-cutting ceremony today (Sunday) from 2-4 p.m. to highlight the construction of a good part of the boardwalk through the swamp. There will be free food (Cajun jambalaya), a steel drum band, beer, and guided walks through the swamp. Everyone is welcome.

Here is a poem for you today:

Golden leaves drifting in fall,
floating on soft wind,
you leave bare boughs behind
but give new life to the soil,
making me happy and sad.

- Connie, Seattle

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