Hi Tweeters,

What a gloriously stormy day down at Dash Point State Park and Des Moines
Marina yesterday. The wind and waves were SPLENDID, plenty of gulls and
some scoters but any chance of a good look for ID purposes was a bit tricky
with the needling rain! None-the-less, it was wonderful to be there with
the wind roaring through the trees, the rolling white waves and the
crackling of snapping branches in a big old Madrone tree on the bluff. Very
exhilarating.

Despite the wind, there was a handsome male American Kestrel hunting by
Emerald Downs. Also, good numbers of Pintails and Wigeon with a sprinkling
of shorebirds on the flooded fields in the Kent Valley.

Today (2/7/99) Cheryl White and I observed that the Great Blue Herons are
back at the Peasley Canyon colony - we counted 21 herons among the twiggy
nests. Interestingly, when we arrived back at the Peasley Canyon P&R a few
hours later, all the herons seemed to be absent.

Ring-necked ducks, Norther Shovelers and a Bald Eagle were the highlights
at Clay Street Marsh; and M St Marsh hosted some Green-winged Teal in
addition to the above mentioned duck species.

As a side note, I noticed that the Indian Plum (granted - a notorious early
bloomer) is starting to send out its new green leaves! Could it possibly
be that Spring may soon be following along?

Michele Herzberg
Kent, WA
<foxglove at jps.net>