While seeing an eagle in Seattle is pretty common, I can't resist a post
about the immature bald eagle I saw over the Montlake canal as I crossed
the Fremont bridge today. At first I thought I was seeing a gull with its
feet streched out beneath it as thought to land, about 50 feet above the
water, but when it turned in the air there was no mistaking it. Theeagle
appeared to be duck hunting, it dove and rose in the air over a group of
scaups and some goldeneye, but wasn't having much luck due to the
relentless mob of crows and gulls in attendance. At one point it swooped
down at the water, narrowly missing a duck who disappeared instantly
beneath the water's surface. After a time the eagle headed west along the
canal, rising and falling over the water, in a flurry of crows and gulls.
A thrilling scene as I walked to work around lunchtime. I'd never seen an
eagle hunting close- up before.

In response to the person who saw no shorebirds at the montlake fill, I
was there last thursday and saw two killdeer (and heard) at one of the
ponds. Also saw a flock of about 10 violet -green swallows that
reassured me of spring's emminent arrival.
That would have been 13 march.

Alyssa Sampson
U.W.