Hi gang,

I saw one newly fledged Great Blue Heron this morning at Commodore Park, a
stone's throw from the Kiwanis Ravine heronry. Last year I saw 10 on 9 July
and 22 10 July, I'll try to get down there the next few days and see if
there's a repeat. A couple of Adults around the locks and there were 10
adults on the Meadow Point tideflats in Golden Gardens Park.

Also in the pond in Golden Gardens there are now two turtles. (Maybe more?)
It was interesting to watch them swim underwater, they looked like a moving
patch of light until they raised their heads. One posed fairly well on a log
so I could see the yellow with black-splotched plastron and dark green skin
with yellow stripes on the neck and legs. I also saw a bit of red on the
side of the head so I wonder if it was a Red-eared Slider? The carapace
wasn't very visible from my angle but it looked dull dark green. I
understand RESL* are also known as Dime Store Turtles. I can't imagine two
adult turtles could get into this 5 year old pond without being released
Anyway, the kids love them, so I guess it isn't all bad.

Cliff Drake
Ballard Seattle, WA
cliffdrake at qwest.net


*I suppose our common four letter bird codes can work for other species as
well? Hence RESL for Red-eared Sliders and I guess DSTU for Dime Store
Turtles. Honestly, I'm not an expert in matters Turtelian so everything is
just a guess.