Weather: It was overcast throughout the day with little wind for the most part. There were occasional light rain showers, and on at least one occasion the wind blew up for a while as the rain shower passed over. The sun came out briefly a couple off times.

Birds: At the park I was able to watch a flock of 5-10 American Pipits foraging at the south beach.

There were 50-100 gulls gathered in various smaller groups along the beach. I have not seen such large numbers of gulls on recent trips to the park. I am uncertain what brings them to the park at sometimes but not others.

There were still at least two Savannah Sparrows at the park, though I have not seen them in significant numbers on the campus lawn the last couple of days.

Flora: Elderberry flowers are getting cloes to blooming, as are the rosy twisted stalk flowers. The understory of the forest in the park has greened up dramatically in the last week or so.

Weather: It started out clear with a high haze developing through morning and overcast by evening. The temperatures hit the mid-60s at least. It felt like a summer day.

Birds: There was a small mixed group of shorebirds at the South end of the park today. Among them were a Pectoral Sandpiper, Western Sandpipers, a Dunlin, and two Short-billed Dowitchers. While I was out at the park I heard what I think was a Pacific Slope Flycatcher, and Orange-crowned Warlbers. There were still at least a couple of Savannah Sparrows but their numbers have definitely declined in the last few days. There was at least a couple of Northern Flickers that were busy calling in the area around the house today. At one point in the late morning I even heard some drumming. One flicker was calling from the alder trees behind the house, before moving on towards the park.

When I was out in the back yard watching the flicker, Rowan told me there was a bird over at the edge of the lawn. I walked over to see and it was a Hermit Thrush that seemed fairly tolerant of our presence. I was able watch it for a few minutes while it was foraging.

Insects: The click beetles seem to have emerged. I saw a few of them today without even trying to look for them. The white butterflies are increasing in numbers and I also saw Morning Cloak butterfly.

Flora: Plantain have started to bloom in the upper estuary meadow at the park. There are also black lily flower buds formed.

Some of the green plants that grow on the very upper intertidal gravel flat at the park are starting to grow out again.

I went part way up Verstovia today and on the way I spent a little time observing birds along Lincoln Street and down in Totem Park.

Weather: It was partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies over the day. There was a light wind out of the south west around mid-morning when I was walking down through the park.

Birds: There were a pair of Wilson’s Warblers in the trees in our backyard this morning. The Townsend’s Warblers were also singing.

Still lots of ravens on the campus lawn.

There was a flock of Red Crossbills in the trees on the water side of Lincoln Street. They were actively foraging on abundant hemlock cones.

As I was leaving the crossbills, I happened to notice a raptor that did not look like an eagle. It was a fair distance away, but I still took a some photos of it in the hopes that it would be enough for identification. It turned out to be a Red-tailed Hawk.

There were many warblers in the trees surrounding the estuary.

While I was watching a Wilson’s Warbler, hoping it would land in a branch close to me where I could get a photo, a Downy or Hairy Woodpecker flew up to a tree right near me. Unfortunately, it landed on the other side of the tree and flew off before I could get a better look.

I think I heard a Pacific Slope Flycatcher, but I was not able to find it visually.

There were not many shorebirds at the park, two small sandpipers (Western, perhaps?) flew up from right in front of me after I had more or less given up on seeing any. There were two Spotted Sandpipers in front of the Visitor’s Center.

The highlight of the park visit was seeing a Bald Eagle eating. I have found quite a few sets of gull remains over the last couple of years, but today was the first time I saw one being consumed (see today’s photo). I assume this eagle caught the gull, but I did not see it happen.

On Mt. Verstovia Trail I observed (heard, mostly) a Northern Flicker, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, hummingbirds (including one that seemed particularly interested in a large broken off snag), Townsend’s Warblers, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, crossbills, a mystery bird (chickadee?), eagles, crows, and ravens.

Flora: There are siberian miner’s lettuce plants blooming along Lincoln Street.

The stream violets at the bottom of Mt. Verstovia Trail appear to be in full bloom. I saw some fern-leaf goldthread flowers as I got up to medium elevations.

Weather: There was a fairly heavy overcast throughout the day.

Birds: The warblers seem to be abundant. I do not remember seeing Yellow Warblers and Wilson’s Warblers around the neighborhood in past years like I have this year, but I suspect that was due to my lack of attention.

The crossbill flock was fairly active in the trees across the street today. After spending quite some time near the tops of the trees, some of them flew down into the salmonberry bushes. It seemed that many of the birds are juveniles/first year birds (see photo above).

Orange-crowned Warblers and Wilson’s Warblers have been singing from the bushes and trees in the neighborhood. I’ve also heard (and occasionally seen) Townsend’s Warblers. Yellow Warblers do not seem to be signing, but I have seen them.

On a trip to Alice Island today I saw Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Lincoln’s Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Orange-crowned Warblers, Wilson’s Warblers, a Yellow Warbler, four Whimbrels, and an assortment of gulls, crows, ravens, and eagles.

On the way to Alice Island I saw 5 Great Blue Herons flying together over campus toward the water.

Flora: The spruce tips are coming out on some of the spruce trees. On Alice Island I saw one spruce tree with pollen cones growing.

Animal Notes: At the end of Alice Island I watched a Sealion leisurely surfacing and eating something. There was no boat at the cleaning station, so perhaps it caught something or was eating pieces of fish that had been left previously.

As I walked around the rocky shore, I happened to spot an otter swimming toward me. It did not seem to notice me, but unfortunately was swimming underwater on its nearest approach to where I was sitting.

A little while later I saw a mink running through the grass a little way above the rocky shore.