On Sun, 10 Jan 1999, Bob Mauritsen wrote:

> My brother and family live in Orting, just a bit west of the Puyallup
> River. He tells me often about seeing many eagles in the trees along
> the river. Especially now: they saw six eagles at once just a few
> days ago.
>
> Most of the eagles they see are bald eagles, but he also says that
> they often see beautiful golden eagles.

In the last several years, Chum Salmon carcasses have been dumped
(distributed?) along the Puyallup River south of Orting. Bald
Eagles have taken to this ready food source and my source tells
me that it is not difficult to find as many as 30 in the cottonwoods
along the river here. I know that an occasional Golden Eagle among
the usual Bald Eagle gatherings at dead flesh piles on riverbanks
is expected. I now wish I would have stopped and looked more carefully
when I was driving through the area last Thursday. I saw three Bald
Eagles just looking out my truck window as I drove down the road.
The only thing about your brother's report that inspires a smidgeon
of doubt is the word "often". I would expect that a Golden Eagle
observation in this area would be a rare treat.

I encountered a couple of Eurasian Wigeons with American Wigeons
last week during my waterfowl surveys and a single Trumpeter Swan
on Silver Lake near Eatonville. The swan showed little wariness
as it stood on a dock and didn't move when I approached within
about 40 meters. I wondered if it might be a bird from the Northwest
Trek Wildlife Park, taking a break from the constant prying eyes of the
paying public who visit the park. I think the swans there can fly off
if they so desire. Also on Silver Lake, a Bald Eagle laying splayed
out on the water, occasionally attempting a lift-off but obviously
trying to lift something too heavy. Finally, it rose from the water
without its prey, made a tight circle and picked up the dead duck
with little trouble and took it to a tree for snacking. Looked to
me like the duck was a Mallard.

True to form, Lawrence lake was my top waterfowl lake this winter with
over 800 ducks and 1500 coots. The swans weren't present on the day I
did my count but there was a nice variety of other species, including
Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, Common Goldeneye, scaup,
Pintail, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Bufflehead, and Gadwall. Three
Hundred and Thirty Ring-necked Ducks. Not bad, huh?

Kelly McAllister