On Sunday, a survey of the Des Moines, WA, Marina and the Beach Park area
near the Senior Center revealed:

GREAT BLUE HERONRY-seven constructed nests in two locations. Two are
above the red "Building A" near the entrance and within easy viewing from
the footbridge across the mouth of Des Moines Creek. The other five are
in the trees above the parking area at the 'drama' center, just
south/across from the car bridge. Six nests were occupied with herons
when I was there Sunday afternoon; four had both parents and two had a
single bird tending. No eagles were seen on Sunday during my survey
time; an immature Redtail Hawk was being escorted and harassed by a LOT of
crows above the general wooded area east of the senior center. The
heronry has already been reported to Tweeters within the past two
weeks; it seems to have a number of people keeping an eye on it for signs
of hatchlings. On Sunday, birds were seen carrying nesting material to
the nests, standing beside or in the nest itself, and in one or
two nests possibly brooding eggs already, based on the flattened posture
of the adult bird.

No swallows were seen in the Marina area. Most of the wintering waterfowl
have departed. A few rafts of White-winged and Surf Scoters were on the
water both north of the Marina along with about fifteen Coots, a pair
or so of Barrow's Goldeneye and about five American Wigeon. Three COMMON
LOONS and small groups of Surf Scoters were foraging in the bay south of
the Marina. About seventy-five BRANT geese were on the beach and just
off shore in the water just south of the Yacht Club.

One Three CASPIAN TERNS were making their way north as I surveyed; they
cruised the area paralleling jetties, but continued north. A Canada Goose
is nesting on top of the south jetty. Only a single grebe was noted, a
basic-plumed Horned Grebe near the boat sheds. Two noisy Belted
Kingfishers, one was male and the other undetermined, were flying
about. The local to-nest-soon Pigeon Guillemots, at least three were
seen, are now in full alternate plumage.

I did not have time to survey the Seahurst Park or beach areas this past
weekend.....

Cheers and enjoy,

Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu U of WA & Burien-Seahurst Park, WA

"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-