Tweeters,

Pied-billed Grebes have been in East Bay, Olympia, for a few weeks. I saw one
both days this weekend (mistook it for a Red-necked on Saturday -- I have
excuses). A Common Loon has been hiding out in the bay. It retains much
alternate plumage. Mallards and Hooded Mergansers are mainstays, with 23 of the
former and 4 of the latter on Sunday's cool, gray afternoon low tide.
Double-crested Cormorants round out the non-gulls seen swimming in East Bay on
24 and 25 October.

A more thorough coverage of the Olympia waterfront Saturday brought my first
Barrow's Goldeneyes and Buffleheads of the season--a handful of each. A
_Podiceps auritus_ triplet at the north end of Swantown Marina was
heartwarming. Their plumage appeared strictly basic. Rhinoceros Auklets flew by
or swam at a distance.

Kingfishers kept popping up but rarely offered a full-frontal view. It appears
at least two adult males, one female, and two juveniles not yet sexed are using
the east and west bays of Budd Inlet.

A depressing sight in East Bay: The pile driver is set up and ready to go.
Access to the best viewing point on the bay is cut off this winter for Swantown
Boatworks construction.

On Saturday, I was fortunate to be joined by a dozen birders at West Bay and
another nine for East Bay. Thanks to Black Hills Audubon Society and the
Olympia Stream Team.
--
Scott Richardson
Olympia, Washington
salix at halcyon.com
SWM