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Dawn Chorus at Evergreen Lake (c) Ron Belak These Dawn Chorus gatherings are truly great!  We had mild morning temperatures and were initially greeted by much vociferous activity on the part of House Finches, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and American Robins.  Not only did our group of 40 participants end up eventually with a wonderful variety of birds (43 species), but, as usual, we had an equally diverse offering of palate-pleasing breakfast foods and coffee. Great Blue Heron with Willets (c) jennypphotography.com The birding highlight of the day, a flock of sixty Willets, was immediately noted before the sun had even come up.  And, though prompted to fly off by some young men fishing illegally in the northside restricted area, they eventually returned to their island and spent the rest of the morning there.  Other birds noted early on included six species of ducks, a few Double-crested Cormorants, and a single Western Grebe. Great Blue Heron (c) Ron Belak However, as things warmed up, so did the bird activity.  More cormorants arrived from wherever they had spent the night, an adult Bald Eagle cruised by, and a Red-tailed Hawk was observed off to the southwest of the lake where, I believe, they have nested with some regularity.  An Osprey took an unsuccessful deep dive near the unperturbed Willets, and as it flew up to the east vigorously shook itself sending a cloud of illuminated water droplets coursing through the air. American Goldfinch (c) Chris Marr In short order we had a few Broad-tailed Hummingbirds zipping around, a Great Blue Heron joining the Willets, a trio of Say’s Phoebes sallying out for breakfast from remnant cattail stalks, a Wilson’s Snipe calling from deep in the wetland, and several singing Song Sparrows along the creek and wetlands.   All this activity was followed up by a time of renewed coffee, lots of great breakfast options, and many congenial conversations around a couple of picnic tables.  Of course, w