Subject: Seward Park highlights
Date: Dec 14 21:55:37 1997
From: "J. Marrazzo" - jmm2 at u.washington.edu



The weekend yielded two sightings of interest: the first I'll mention
because I think someone was interested in hearing about all local belted
kingfisher sightings. What I think is the kingfisher I see on about half
of my Seward Park outings was present on Saturday morning, on the park's
south side,near the parking lot beyond the tennis courts, perusing the
water below in kingfisher fashion. Though I like kingfishers, what was
much more impressive was todays' treat: 4 bald eagles absolutely
terrorizing one particular gull (I didn't have my binocs but it didn't
appear to be anything unusual--apologize for gull identifying lameness
from afar) in the inlet near the pottery studio. These baldies were just
irritated beyond belief--while I often see what I presume are the (at
least) 2 resident eagles at
SP especially in the winter, I haven't seen so many and in such vocal form
ever. Not sure what the gull's offense was, or if s/he just looked
attractive to them--do eagles catch and eat seagulls as prey? There were
plenty of the other usual waterfowl about and I certainly have seen eagles
pick up a duck here or there. The eagles were also crying so loudly and
persistently -- I couldn't imagine they were just chastising the gull for
having stolen a fish or something. But, who knows, perhpas all were
especially hungry. At any rate, it was a dramatic way to start a pretty
placid morning, and provided entertainment for more than a few folks.

Jeanne Marrazzo