Seen on Saturday (October 28, 1995) just off the fishing pier almost
within manual reach was an ravenously foraging common loon.

Our population of surf scoters has swelled in two weeks from about 65 to
near 300! There were at least 2 male Barrow's Goldeyes with the scoters.
I'll look for nasal disks henceforth; the ducks were a bit too distant to
see any artificial appendages.

The north winds sweeping down the sound buffeted in 5 Western grebes...they
remained apart from the surf scoter 'n wigeon party (really lotsa of
these now!). Horned grebes (they also keep away from the big rafts of
ducks) have increased to near 10, but where are the red-necked grebes?
Anyone else consistently seeing red-necked grebes along the southeast
Puget shores?

North of the pier area perched in a snagtop on the Normandy Park bluff
was an adult bald eagle. Winter is here.

Like a number of you, I am struggling with how to vote on Initiative
640. Referendum 48 is much more obvious in its implications. The
information conveyed on Tweeters about these difficult ecological issues
is really appreciated. Please continue the diverse opinions.

What a gorgeous bright weekend folks, and the Mountain was really out!

Maureen E. Ellis
Home near Des Moines WA Marina
(how lucky I am!)
and U of WA Toxicology
Group at Roos 1, DEH,
SPHCM, Box 345695,
Seattle, WA 98195
me2 at u.washington.edu