Hi everyone,

Spent a most pleasant midday out surveying the Puget Sound from the south
end of the marina jetty across the small bay north of the fishing pier.
New birds are here plus increasing numbers of recent arrivals: 5-7
RED-NECKED grebes-new today, up to 10 WESTERN grebes-new today, 10-12
DOUBLE-CRESTED cormorants, a single COMMON loon-new, near 350 AMERICAN
wigeon (no Eurasian birds yet), about 125-135 SURF scoters on the water, 5
WHITE-WINGED scoters flying up the Sound, about the same scattering of
HORNED grebes, 2 RHINOCEROUS auklets and 2 or more PIGEON guillemots.

Two adult BALD eagles were scaring everybody off the water and out of the
trees (seemed to be dozens of BAND-TAILED pigeons and several GBH's
freaking in all directions). There were a few BONEPARTE's gulls amongst
the varying-aged Glaucous-winged resident/transient mix. A single BELTED
kingfisher (could not see belly well enough to know whether male or
female) was rattling about, fishing, perching and announcing generalities.

It is so fabulous birding here, seeing the Fall arrivals of all the winter
resident species. If the 3rd runway construction renders the Marina area
uninhabitable, there is some comfort that the bays and lagoons off the
private beaches north and south of here may still offer avian refuge.

Have a great week,
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-