Subject: Pine Lake-Opening Day
Date: Apr 28 00:36:02 2002
From: LDavey at aol.com - LDavey at aol.com


Hello Tweeters,

Today was opening day of fishing season, and on Pine Lake in Sammamish, WA,
it was a glorious day indeed. Fishing was fun as always, though we didn't
catch anything. The "main event", however, was the airshow. Right on cue, as
though they had been hired for the event, two OSPREYS and two bald EAGLES
soared in the skies above the lake just as the sun began to peek out from the
afternoon clouds. They stayed around for a couple of hours, coming and going
as they pleased.

One Eagle was a juvenile, the other mature. The ospreys were fairly large,
but were dwarfed by the Eagles. I am always amazed to watch the aerial
"butt-pecking" that goes on between the various raptors in and around the
lake. Each has spectacular maneuvers, and all seem to tolerate each other.
(Certainly more than I would if I were flying around. :) The CROWS have
outted numerous OWLS in recent days, the ospreys have had some good fishing,
and the Eagles have so harassed all the resident waterfowl that we have begun
to call them all "Darth Vader." We know when they are out there, even if we
can't see them, because the GEESE and DUCKS tell us.

Waterfowl breeding and hatching on Pine Lake seems a bit slow this year. So
far, we have seen only one MALLARD with ducklings. She had 7 originally, but
is down to 5. She is a good Mamma, but the Drakes are in their "gotta
reproduce" mode, and are chasing just about anything that moves. I pity the
females who have lost their nests, because now they are constantly chased. As
a rule, we don't normally interfere with the goings ons, but today in our
yard, three Drakes were chasing a female, and finally got her just at the
water's edge. They would surely have drowned her if we hadn't shooed them
away. I know they will try again tomorrow, and I will try again not to
interfere. SIGH...

I still have much to learn as I know I've seen more than I can list here, but
for now, here is our "Pine Lake Opening Day" list:

Spotted Towhee (3)
Black-Capped Chickadee (2)
Killdeer (1)
Northern Flicker (4)
Red-winged Blackbird (2)
Bald Eagle (2)
Osprey (2)
Red-breasted Sapsucker (1)
American Robin (lots)
European Starling (lots)
Glaucous-winged Gull (1)
Stellar's Jay (2)
Canada Geese (5)
Mallards
Lesser Scaups*
Goldeneyes*
Buffleheads*

* These were too numerous to count, but it seems to me they are lingering on
Pine Lake much later this year than they did last year.