In the course of nearshore water sampling today, I had an osprey overhead at
the foot of Magnolia Bluff, just west of the Elliott Bay Marina. Gulls were
half-heartedly harassing it. I'm not aware of any osprey nests any closer
than the one just down river from Kellogg Island. Later in the day I checked
on that Duwamish nest, but things were quiet. Yesterday I saw the
Bellevue/Meydenbauer osprey on its nest, and for the first time I noticed
the nest-cam in an adjacent tree.
Caspian terns were along the Duwamish and the north shore of Alki, and two
pairs of harlequin ducks were south of Alki Pt along the cement bulkhead.
Towhees were everywhere in Carkeek Park it seemed. About 20 black brant were
on the beach on the north side of the lighthouse at Discovery Park. Pigeon
guillemots were under the pier at Seacrest marina, sounding woeful with
their shrill cries.
No martins anywhere for me today, but I hear that Vashon has nearly 20 pairs
around the island right now; I'll check on those next week when I dig butter
clams over there.

Kevin Li
Seattle, WA
e-mail: kevin.li at metrokc.gov