Today, Sunday, August 27, 2000, I surveyed Seahurst Park forest trails and
also binoc'd the saltwater between Seahurst Park's Marine Technology
building and north end of Vashon Island. There were a number of birds out
on the water in mid channel. At least two of these were COMMON LOONS, and
as many as 15 RED-NECKED GREBES in scattered small groups were a surprise
this early. One HORNED GREBE and 1 RHINOCEROUS AUKLET were also in
view. Possibly Red-throated Loons and Western Grebes were present in the
lines of distant floating fowl, but so far away. However,
"jizz" suggested Grebe more than Loon. A SCOTER species flew low over the
water, perhaps a female, too far to id. In the bay just north of Seahurst
Park public shoreline were rafts of mixed gulls on the water; some of
these were MEW GULLS along with returning numbers of Glaucous-winged and
G-w x W hybrids. Perched on a close-in buoy was a single juvenile
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT.....don't see them, or any other Cormorant
species, here very often.

A large number of 'whistle-calling' BAND-TAILED PIGEONS spooked and flew
through the canopy of the shoreline trees. PILEATED WOODPECKERS,
STELLER'S JAYS, and ROBINS (many jay and Robin juveniles) were
particularly active and noisy in the woodland. A single PACIFIC-SLOPE
FLYCATCHER was busy foraging from the top of a high snag. Not much else
was noted in the forest, a few chatting Black-capped Chickadees, a single
Song Sparrow, a calling Flicker and a juvenile male Downy Woodpecker
rounded out the list for a lovely, late-summer's afternoon bird walk.
There DO seem to be hoards and hoards of this year's hatch of House
Sparrows on the parking lots, lawns, school playgrounds and sidewalk edges
east of the park and everywhere I look! May many of these sacrifice
themselves to the nutritional needs of Peregrine Falcons and our suburban
woodland hawks.

Cheers to all, Maureen

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Maureen Ellis, PhD, Research Scientist
Toxicology Group at Roos 1, 284A
Lab/Office phone: 206-685-1938
Dept of Environmental Health, Mailstop 354695
School of Public Health and Community Medicine
University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115

Personal Financial Analyst
Primerica division of Citigroup, Inc.
VoiceTell: 206-213-7430

E-Mail: me2 at u.washington.edu
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"Why are we now traveling into space? Why, indeed, did we trouble to look
past the next mountain? Our prime obligation to ourselves is to make the
unknown known. We are on a journey to keep an appointment with whatever
we are."_____Gene Roddenberry