This afternoon as I was driving home down Beaver Valley Rd, at about mile
marker 7, I saw an American Kestrel perched on the telephone wire eating
dinner. I swung about as soon as I safely could and managed to park
close enough to get out the scope and watch him for about 30 minutes.
After he finished his meal, he took off north and I watched him out of
sight with the scope. Last spring I frequently saw a male Kestrel in the
exact same location, and twice I saw a female there, so I am hoping it is
the same male. I put everything away and drove back towards Chimacum to
find a safe place to turn back around (there are very few safe places on
this road to turn off). Just as a huge semi started tailgating me, I
thought I saw another Kestrel hovering at the edge of the trees to my
right. Obviously I couldn't turn or pull off the road right then and, as
luck would have it, this bird was gone when I came back. However,
another mile or so down the road, I saw a female Kestrel sitting on the
wire! I have high hopes now!
Also seen this glorious afternoon: the really dark morph red-tail is
back on it's favorite telephone pole that tops the rise just outside of
Chimacum, the swan pond on Embody road had it's usual Mute and two
visiting Trumpeters along with a variety of ducks, including a couple of
Buffleheads, some malards and three green-wing teal. Two Turkey Vultures
were seen circling low over the cow fields near the school in the early
morning, and (as usual) a couple Bald Eagles worked the weak thermals
over the school yard in the afternoon.

Joanne Schmitt
jschmitt at sprintmail.com
Poulsbo, WA

"The earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs,
but not every man's greed."
- Mahatma Ghandi