Subject: 05-12-98 afternoon, Des Moines Marina, WA
Date: May 12 16:57:57 1998
From: Maureen Ellis - me2 at u.washington.edu


Howdy,
Unusual for our area at this time of the year: About 58 WESTERN grebes in
three flotillas quite close to the shore just beyond the fishing pier and
the Beach Park (low tide afternoon.) They seemed to slowly drift
north with the currents mostly loafing with folded necks and
occasionally dive-foraging. There were also two HORNED grebes in
full alternative plumage and a raft of about 25 BARROW'S goldeneye ducks.
Only two of these were fully adult plumed males; the others were
'immature' males and females. A single breeding-tressed Great
Blue heron was on the beach attempting to feed while being harassed by
adolescent humans who should have been in school; the heron finally
cruised over to the undisturbed private beach area off the Normandy Park
bluff.

Repeated monitoring for our heretofore resident BELTED kingfishers has
revealed none. Until about Jan/98, we had up to 3 males year
around and 1-2 females during the nesting season. Anyone else
who happens to be birding here, please watch for kingfishers around the
Marina. Our BARN swallow colony is thriving with 20-25 nests so far (past
years have had up to 70 nests under the public boat launch 'wharf' (is
that the right word?---I'm more a desert person; this ocean salt water
environment still requires many new terms to learn even after living in
the NW for 6 years!)

Cheers,
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA

"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of
confusion and bamboozle requires vigilance, dedication, and courage."
-Carl Sagan-