There was something else very interesting flying over the Duwamish this morning, at about 9:00 a.m.: the newly restored and highly historic Boeing Stratoliner, out for (at least) two short test flights. The last of its kind, it will soon be off to the big Oshkosh, Wisconsin air show, then on to the Smithsonian for permanent display. Quite a sight to see it flying -- I feel very fortunate that I happened to be looking in the right place at the right time, and that I had my scope with me, to boot! The entire plane is brilliant silver -- that's how I happened to notice it, because it was shining so brightly.

Andrea Grad
Alki
agrad at helsell.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Desilvis, Denis J [mailto:denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 10:05 AM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu; Victoria.T.Luiting at nws02.usace.army.mil
Subject: On the Duwamish - 7/22/2003


Tweeters,
The temperature at 9:20-9:45am is starting to climb, as is the incoming tidal water here at Turning Basin #3. Nothing to note of exception, although the two nestling OSPREYS I can scope are definitely getting bigger. The adults appeared to be housekeeping: moving sticks around on the west side of the nest--with both youngsters behind them clamoring for attention (no anthropomorphizing here!). Birds seen included the following:

Great Blue Heron (2)
Canada Goose (25, all in one swimming group--a fairly consistent sight)
Mallard (19, also a fairly consistent sight)
Common Merganser (2--both juv; haven't seen the 7 juv +ad that had been around the area)
Osprey (2 ad +2 nestlings)
Killdeer (5)
Least Sandpiper (4)
Glaucous-winged Gull (2)
Rock Dove (8)
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow (6)
Bushtit (2)
Bewick's Wren
European Starling (>20 feeding on the drier part of the shoreline)
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
House Sparrow


May all your birds be identified,

Denis DeSilvis
Seattle, WA
denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com