Hello Tweeters,

It seems as though a Tufted Duck is wondering in and out of Washington.

Russell

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Russell Rogers
4510 Glenn Way SW
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 935-6280
rrogers at halcyon.com
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 96 10:41:00 PST
From: John W Bumgarner <John_W_Bumgarner at ccm.al.intel.com>
To: obol at mail.orst.edu
Subject: Tufted Duck

We made the drive from Portland to Arlington on Sunday 3/17
and managed to find the flock of ducks being scoped by another
couple just off the grain elevator. Unfortunately, a no-doubt
ethical and careful boater sped thru the flock just as I
returned with our scope, scattering it to the far side of the
Columbia.

This gave us time to do some sage-brush birding south of town
along Eightmile Road. Wonderful looks at colorful Horned
Larks, Western Meadowlarks and even a Golden Eagle soaring.
(Went with the Bald Eagle soaring over Jackson Bottoms in
Hillsboro on Saturday)

After a 3 hr wait, a flock of ducks returned to the grain
silo, having been flushed from the far side by 2 jetskiers.
Unfortunately, after looking at this group of approximately 35
birds (7 Barrow's Goldeneye, remainder mainly Greater Scaup
with 2 Lesser Scaup - at least as far as I could determine by
head shape) for over an hour, we determined than none of them
looked like anything other than Scaup - not a black-back in
the lot. We did get a Mourning Cloak, an unidentified-as-yet
Hairstreak, and a spotted groundsquirrel.

But to prove the day was not a waste, as we nearly gave up,
Susan watched a small group lift off from near the far shore
and followed it all the way to our flock. One of the seven
proved to be the elusive Tufted Duck! And once in sight, it
was distinctive - the dark back and tuft were obvious.
Wonderful looks with the sun behind us. And finally, Susan
got to eat dinner.

Thank-you all for the alert on this good bird.

John

john_w_bumgarner at ccm.al.intel.com