Subject: Eagles @ Rockport; misc.
Date: Jan 2 10:51:32 1999
From: cametobe at ix.netcom.com - cametobe at ix.netcom.com


Yesterday I went to milemarkers 98 and 99 on Hwy 20 near Rockport and found the wonderful spotting scopes and volunteers set
for eagle watching. I was trying to match the eagle count in my tree with that being reeled off by one of the volunteers, but
couldn't get past 7, and he was seeing 16. Soon realized we were looking at adjacent trees! Easily saw at least 30 eagles, 3
of which were very close. One immature seemed about 40' up in a tree just across the highway. A mature and an immature were
about 30' up a tree growing right next to the trail: very close! I got Canon Image Stabilizer binoculars (10x30) for Christmas
and I could see that big ole yellow eye blink as it looked around. These binocs are a dream!!! Volunteers & scopes there each
weekend thru Jan. Also saw about 10 HOODED MERGANSERS paddling around.

Tyler, thanks for the inquiry on the harlequins and oldsquaws; that's JUST the kind of question (and nice answers!) that I
was hoping to find in this birding letter. I'm a 40+ beginner and love finding out what's available in the Seattle area.

Last weekend I went to Langus Riverfront Park in Everett (Broadway north out of Eve, right on 28th, right on 35th, left on
Ross Ave, park under freeway). Saw what I thought was a MERLIN winging it purposefully overhead, and a HAIRY WOODPECKER in
the trees. Didn't do the ~1 mile walk about the marsh. I took the path next to the water from the parking area, and ended up
on a nice walk around a peninsula that ended me at the marsh, and found the treatment center road to be a shortcut to/from the
parking area.

I am seeing a lot of PINE SISKINS, OREGON JUNCOS, and often a STELLAR JAY (or 4!) and a RED-SHAFTED FLICKER or 2 at my feeder
(only sunflower chips and thistle).

Rebecca Galloway
Northgate