Hi Tweeters!

Around noon today, as I was leaving my office (Helly Hansen) near
Marymoor Park I spied a very unusual bird flying all over the place
making loud calls as it flitted from tree to tree. I followed it and got
a fairly good look at it.

I *think* it was some sort of woodpecker judging by the way it was
perched for a moment or two. It was quite large, almost crow sized
with a *very long* pointed bill. In flight the wings appeared reddish
through the bright sunlight. At the base of the tail was a bright flash
of white. I looked at the picture in my Peterson's and the Pileated
doesn't seem to have the "flash of white" at the base of the tail. Yet
the bird seemed to have a long neck like the Pileated. (I also think
there were more than one.....I only followed one, but I think I saw a
second "mystery bird")

Speaking anthropomorphicaly, I think the bird was disoriented and
confused, acting like it didn't really know where it was. Normally the
only birds I see near by office are *&!)!! starlings and crows and a few
swallows swooping in the field just beyond the office.

Oh, and yesterday afternoon I escaped out to the platform by the lake and
noticed the pied billed grebes managed to hatch and nurture one chick.
There were about six or seven eggs when I was last out there, and now it
looks like only one managed to survive beyond the egg stage. The chick
still had its stripes and reddish bill. The parent grebe doted on the
baby and the two birds exchanged many clucks and chirrups and
bill-kissing. Adorable scene!

Lydia In Kent

Lydia Gaebe In Kent, WA
lydia at wizards.net
Pete Tomack's STEEL AND GLASS available NOW!
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