It was disappointedly foggy this morning on the flats. A couple of my
students spotted barn Swallows on Maupin Rd. today. It was foggy. They drug
me over to confirm. Yep. 4 barns sitting on a wire. These are strange
times, swallows in January. Also saw a wonderful old VW van, loaded with
anti-war, pro-environmental stickers, with a scope out the drivers window
watching a falcon on Banks Rd. I wish there was a universal birders sign
that we could flash to each other as we pass. Like a lodge sign or
fraternity handshake. At a dike access we heard a lone peeping in the fog
which turned out to be a dunlin, all by itself, running over the ground and
peeping madly, like shorebirds do when trying to draw you away from their
nest. Very odd, could not explain it. Any ideas why a Dunlin would act this
way?

At Bayview State park we watched a Pacific loon THRASHING in the water,
like it was being attacked. Turned out it was trying to swallow a fish that
seemed impossibly too big. Maybe it was trying to break it apart. About 30
gulls, glaucaus-wings, descended upon the loon and the loon disappeared
under water. Based on the gulls activity it must have left the fish behind.
I wonder how often this occurs? At Breazeal interp center a shrike had
impaled a song sparrow on Malus fusca spine. The sparrow was fresh and still
bleeding. Eww, yuck said the girls. Eww Cool said the boys. Wildlife
inspiration said the teacher. Why do they do this? An eagle flew over the
multi-thousand snow goose flock on Best Rd just in time so my students could
experience that awesome sight and sound as they flew up.

We totaled 55 birds today without working too hard at it either. Highlight
was a Peregrine obligingly perched on a snag in full view, in great light,
for all my students. We were able to study it for several minutes.

Rob Sandelin
Sky Valley Environments <http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm>
Field skills training for student naturalists
Floriferous at msn.com


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