Subject: montlake fill monday morning 6 may
Date: May 7 10:22:55 2002
From: Deborah Wisti-Peterson - nyneve at u.washington.edu



hello tweets,

for the first time in memory, i can honestly say that yesterday at
the montlake fill was miserable. all of my students were freezing.
even i, in my birding state and insulated with four layers of
clothing, was freezing. even the birds were freezing, since we didn't
see much, although later when we tallied the species, we discovered
that we saw 46 species and subspecies total.

most unusual species seen: single horned grebe in full breeding plumage
on the bay near the beaver trees
other notable species: adult bald eagle sitting in the beaver trees for
a long time, two male cinnamon teal practicing their courtship moves
on each other and caspian terns flying overhead, amazing close-up
looks at vaux's swifts that were hunting very low over our heads (most
unusual, from my experience)
notable "dips"; ring-necked pheasant and red-shafted flicker

complete list;

horned grebe, one in full breeding plumage on the water near the beaver
trees
pied-billed grebe
double-crested cormorant
great blue heron, including one that was not in breeding plumage
canada goose
mallard
gadwall
green-winged teal, few
american wigeon, a single bird (unusual from my experience)
northern shoveler, numerous
cinnamon teal, two males on central pond
ring-necked duck, including a possible male hybrid to tufted duck
bufflehead, several females, only one male
ruddy duck, a few on the central pond. all males in full breeding
plumage now
bald eagle, single adult on beaver trees
american coot, not very many, though
killdeer, one by central pond
western sandpiper, a quick look at a single bird as it flew away,
vocalizing
ring-billed gull
glaucous-winged gull
caspian tern, flying overhead and vocalizing in their raspy voices
rock dove
vaux's swift, many hunting as low as ten feet above our heads
anna's hummingbird (always a student pleaser)
belted kingfisher, single male, quite talkative
downy woodpecker
american crow
tree swallow
violet-green swallow
barn swallow
cliff swallow
black-capped chickadee
bushtit
bewick's wren
marsh wren
american robin
european starling
yellow-rumped "audubon's" warbler
yellow-rumped "myrtle" warbler
song sparrow
white-crowned sparrow, singing a mere couple of feet above our heads
golden-crowned sparrows, active and singing vigorously (i'll bet they
are gone after the first cloudless night)
red-winged blackbird
house finch, including one astonishingly red male
goldfinch, many (finally)
house "english" sparrow

regards,

Deborah Wisti-Peterson, PhD Candidate nyneve at u.washington.edu
Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash, USA
Visit me on the web: http://students.washington.edu/~nyneve/
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