A real sunrise this morning as the sun pushed away the clouds and made its triumphant entry in a blue sky. Since the tide was also on the low side, I made my way to the middle of the marsh and was greeted by four Raccoons making their way up the muddy tidal creek -- three rather small ones and one slightly larger, probably a mother and her kits (if that's what young Raccoons are called).
Back to the edge of the marsh and working my way up to the top, there were quite a few birds including some new arrivals. There were the first Yellow-rumped Warblers (a.k.a. Myrtles) of the season, a couple of young Cedar Waxwings and a number of sparrows including: Swamp, Song, Chipping and White-throated. But the most tantalizing bird was a yellow tanager/oriole type with noticeable wing bars. I didn't get a good look at the bill but I am pretty sure it was a Western Tanager! It was too bright and evenly yellow to be a Baltimore Oriole and not greenish enough to be an Orchard. The female Scarlet is yellow enough but doesn't have wing bars. If it is a Western Tanager, that would be a first for the property. I not 100% on this ID but these western tanagers do wander east a lot!
Anything else? The Seaside Goldenrod is still in bloom and attracts a lot of insects, mainly bees. No Monarchs but I saw a handsome Common Buckeye supping on the flowers.
Eric Salzman
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