Clayton Anderson

We started our day early at Mitchell Canyon, and while we didn't get our Western Screech Owl The Poorwills and Great Horned Owls were plenty busy. We spent way more time in the canyon then we should have but it was all worth it when a Hermit and Nashville warbler popped up in tandem. And the Rufous Hummer was the jeweled icing on the cake.

At Lafayette Reservoir a pair of Bald Eagles posed in a tree on the other side, and a lone Great-tailed Grackle sung from the top of the Lookout tower. Finally a 'pissed-off' Crow chased the Grackle all over the reservoir until the Crow was exhausted. Then the Grackle flew right back to the tower and continued singing,

On Mines road a pair of Swainson's Hawks consummated their nuptials in the top of an Oak! (that was a 'lifer'). Further along after almost giving up hope on a pullout, just below us in a small patch of scrub, what seemed like a dozen white-crowned and Golden-crowned sparrows flew out, then a very healthy pair of Rufous-crowned sparrows hopped up onto the fence line to check our credentials.
We drove into a hail storm near the turnaround which we took as a sign. Lazuli Bunting and a Golden Eagle ushered us out of the valley.

At Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, we finally got our Osprey, Caspian tern and Semi-palmated plover along with a few other shorebirds. But then cold drizzle started to blow into our eyes and it was time to go.

We finally got to Blue Heron Lake, were we were blessed with Ring-necked duck, our one and only Coot and Allens hummer. The Great Blue Herons were busy feeding their chicks. And as the light started to fade, a 'pair' of Greater White-fronted geese bade us farewell while simultaneously begging for food.

All in all, a great time was had by Steve Powell, Marsha Henderson and myself as we bumped along the road, sharing stories and getting excited about little feathery things flying across our windshield.

This spring has be a very green and birdy spring. Thank you to everyone who contributed to a great Birdathon campaign!