Tweeters,

Great day at the Hamma Hamma estuary on Hood Canal yesterday.
Watched a Merlin for a long time as it repeatedly chased
crows around a small patch of firs out nest the tidewater.
There were 2 Merlins for a short time. Also, 15 Turkey
Vultures circled to the west for a time.

Lots of waterfowl to look at: Horned Grebes, White-winged Scoters,
Common Mergansers, Pintails, Wigeon, Mallards, Green-winged Teal,
Canada Geese. There were three Harlequin Ducks hanging around
for a while, including a male with a color band on it left leg.
I left Greg Schirato a message about it.

Two small geese that were around all day (flying and feeding in one
place or another on the estuary) resembled White-fronts but didn't have
the white patch at the base of the bill. I presume they were some
kind of domestic gone wild??? They didn't have the black speckling
on the underbelly either but apparently first winter white-fronts
don't have this field mark.

Unfortunately, the Hamma Hamma estuary is posted private property and
I was allowed to be there because I was working.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife