12:04pm start: Water level at 8ft
12:29pm end: Water level at 7.5ft (this was an estimated reading since the marker is quite "green" with algae or other stuff)

Tweeters,
High expectations, with the sun out and virtually no wind. However, lots of small boat activity, nets being set, etc., meant few birds on the river, mudflats, or banks today. (10 gillnets were set in the immediate vicinity of Turning Basin #3, and they were certainly doing their job: I saw quite at least 8 get snagged.) Although I saw 27 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, all were flying. The only birds on the river or banks were MALLARD, GADWALL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, and BELTED KINGFISHER. I hadn't realized how translucent the white in the Kingfisher's wings could be against the low sunlight. Which reminds me: I'm going to have to scan earlier in the day because at about noon the sun is low in the southwest, reflecting right off the river into my eyes. I guess that's the cost of clear skies!

Birds seen during this time include the following:

Gadwall (3)
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant (27)
Great Blue Heron (One often perches in the weeping willow at the south end of TB#3)
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull (7)
Rock Pigeon (34)
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow (4)
European Starling (1!)
House Finch (2)
House Sparrow (2)

May all your birds be identified,

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