What a beautiful afternoon at the Des Moines Marina:

Hundreds of AMERICAN Wigeon were on the water (no Eurasian seen among
them.) Small-numbered drifts of SURF Scoters and 4 WESTERN Grebes were
north of the Fishing Pier. Only a single bird of any species was seen on
the water within the rock jetty-protected slips and sheds, another Western
Grebe (making a total of 5 seen in the general area.) Five DOUBLE-CRESTED
Cormorants have shown up, probably to spend the winter. Ironically, no
Horned or Red-necked grebes were seen during my 2 hour survey as far as I
could see out on the water. Small numbers of basic plumed and/or juvenile
BONEPARTE'S and CALIFORNIA (mostly second winter birds) were scattered
within the beach-roosting flocks of primarily Glaucous-winged, hybrids,
and some Ring-billed gulls. A couple of adult GBH's, one feeding just
offshore, and one perched on the outer jetty were added to the list. The
actual resident? status of Great Blue Herons at the Marina is unclear with
recent years of local nesting failure due to Bald Eagle predation.

A nice, but not unexpected, surprise---2 SAVANNAH'S Sparrows
skulking and spooking briefly on the rock walls near the Fishing Pier.
These flew quickly south when they were aware of 'binoc' eyes. Savannah
Sparrows, in small numbers, almost always make brief feeding forays at the
Marina in their southbound migrations.

NOTE: The first RUBY-CROWNED Kinglet arrived near our Seahurst Park
bordering condo complex, Friday morning, October 08, 99.

Enjoy Sunday,

Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu U of WA & Burien-Seahurst Park, WA
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"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of
confusion and bamboozle requires vigilance, dedication, and courage."
-Carl Sagan-

"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities." -Pogo-