This morning I checked out the gulls at East Beach. There was a good assortment of birds hanging around the Mission Creek outfall, including first-year Heerman's and Glaucous-winged Gulls. With them there was a mixed Tern Flock, including both Royal and Elegant Terns. The latter were in breeding plumage, showing a nice peach-colored wash on the lower breast. A Caspian Tern flew by as well and there were 4 Black Skimmers on the bank of Mission Creek.
I moved over to Chase Palm Park where I erased a long-standing debit and finally turned up the Plumbeous Vireo. It was in a lower pine tree along the northern boundary wall, jus east of the playground and next to a circular area that contained two concrete picnic tables. I got excellent views of it as it foraged in the pine tree. At one point it was just 6 feet from me. Other birds in the sycamore trees included a small flock of American Goldfinches and several Yellow-rumps, some singing and coming into nice breeding plumage.
I decided to push my luck a little and headed for the Bird Refuge, where I tried for but didn't get the reclusive Swamp Sparrow. This is definitely a job for many eyes! However , the willows had a singing Yellow Warbler and the small Snow Goose continues on the apron of the lake.
Florence Sanchez