I stopped at several spots this morning to bird the northern part of the Edmonds waterfront. My last stop was Sunset Avenue, just north of the ferry dock. I was starting to put my scope back in the car at 10:45 am when two BARN SWALLOWS flew by, circled to hawk insects, and then continued north by northeast. I noticed the distinctive flight pattern first and then saw them through my binoculars as they circled around a house on Sunset. I noted dark uppers, whitish undersides, and their characteristic long, forked tails.

It has been at least several years since we saw one overwintering Barn Swallow at the marsh. That was a February sighting, if I recall correctly.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds, Wa