On November 24th, 1994 (last week) my brother and I were
fishing in the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River near
Fortson Mill Ponds. We were watching chum salmon spawn and
noticed an American Dipper hanging around. It got into the
river in the immediate vicinity of the salmon and came up
with a salmon egg which it promptly ate. I couldn't believe
my eyes and watched again as it came up a second time with a
salmon egg and gulped it down. (I made sure my brother saw
it this time!)

On the way back down river we noticed another chum salmon
spawning area with two dippers hanging around. One of them
was singing very merrily (somewhat reminiscent of a
mockingbird).

I was amazed! I found no mention of dippers eating fish
eggs in the Birder's Handbook. I have not checked any other
sources. Has anyone ever made a similar observation? Is
this common knowledge and I just finally figured it out?

Wayne Iverson
wivers at seaccc.ctc.edu
SE Seattle (not far from Seward Pk.)