Subject: Meadowlark at Browns Point (Pierce County)
Date: Dec 31 16:29:08 2003
From: Rob McNair-Huff - rob at whiterabbits.com


In an attempt to squeeze one last birding excursion into 2003, Natalie
and I spent an hour this afternoon birding along the northern edges of
Commencement Bay in the Tacoma area. The highlights were all at Browns
Point Park in Northeast Tacoma where we found a mature WESTERN MEADOWLARK
feeding among the flotsam that has settled among picnic tables in the
low-lying grass section of the park near the automated lighthouse. The
bright yellow and black meadowlark wasn't too concerned about our
presence. It seemed more interested in picking through the debris for
food in the chilly 35 degree temperatures. I am not sure how long the
bird has been hanging out, but it was the first of its kind that we have
seen at Browns Point.

Water birds dominated the rest of the scene at Browns Point, including
three MARBLED MURRELET, two of which were exhibiting what I suspect was
breeding behavior - the two would swim real close to each other with
their necks thrust out and up at extreme angles, showing off their white
breasts. The two murrelets appeared to bump into each other a couple of
times as they were exhibiting this behavior. Interesting to watch.

Other birds in the area included a handful of Rhinocerous Auklet, a
single Common Murre, a single Western Grebe, and a handful each of Horned
and Red-necked Grebe. We had a fly-by of one Pelagic Cormorant and as
usual for this time of year there were plenty of Bonaparte's Gulls
feeding and flocking over the bay. A handful of Surf Scoter and a couple
of Bufflehead were present along with a handful of Red-breasted
Mergansers and a couple Common Mergansers to round out the birds at
Browns Point around 3 p.m.

Happy New Year!

Rob

--
Rob McNair-Huff ---------- mailto:rob at whiterabbits.com
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