Subject: 3 for 3 for the Weekend!
Date: Jan 15 17:41:17 2001
From: MaryK - bassclef at aa.net


Wow! Great weekends for birds for me!

Saw the Hawk Owl yesterday, as previously posted.

The Great-Tailed Grackle was hanging out amidst the Euro Starlings and
Brewer's Blackbirds on the telephone poles/lines across 271st from the feed
store. Had an opportunity to see it fly with the flock of other birds and
see the contrast in size, etc. Very nice-looking tail when it's fanned
out! One thing I noticed was that the grackle would let the blackbirds sit
close to it, but not the starlings -- it "snapped" at them and they moved
away pronto.

Got to the Big Ditch around 1:45. It was socked in by the fog, but I
nonetheless took off in search of the Snowy Owl. A couple of folks told me
they had seen it so I figured what the hey. Along the way down the path I
was treated to sightings of many Northern Harriers, the sounds of many
Rufous-Sided Towhees, gulls, etc. Got almost all the way to the
blue-roofed bldgs and figured I'd missed the Snowy Owl, so turned around
and headed back. By that time it was about 2:40 and the fog had started to
lift. Thank goodness! With more light to bounce off of its white
feathers, I found the owl perched on a piece of driftwood, preening and
checking out its surroundings. Occasionally it would bob its whole body up
and down and I thought it was going to take off, but no. At one point it
stood up and I got a nice look at its "furry"-looking legs, and its
tail. Striking bird. Watched it for maybe 40 min., saw nothing
remarkable, but seeing it was enough!

For those of you who might still be heading up to the Big Ditch to check
out the owl, I found it today across from a tree that appears to be leaning
towards the water, on the other side of the irrigation ditch (the side away
from the Sound). You can't miss it, it's the only tree that looks to be
leaning.

What a cool place the Big Ditch is! Today was my first time there, thanks
to the folks who posted info on how to get to it, and for pointing folks
towards the "Birding in Washington" book for directions.

Oh, and for other folks who are Delormeless (like me), 530 and Pioneer Way
(?) are the same road...

Good birding,

Mary Klein
Seattle
mailto:bassclef at aa.net