Subject: Discovery Park, Seattle, 15 Nov
Date: Nov 15 17:14:17 2003
From: Matt Bartels - mattxyz at earthlink.net


Greetings Tweeters -
I spent most of today getting soggy out at Discovery Park. Rain in
the morning, rain in the afternoon, but a few great dry hours in
between that coincided with my time out at the point.

Most surprising sighting of the day was a pair of ORCA swimming
north, just off West Point. I've not seen them this far into the
Sound before, and it seemed fitting that they appeared as the sun
peeked out between clouds.

In the bird category, here are some highlights:
PEREGRINE - one or two. One sitting on a snag over the stairs leading
down from the north bluff, around 11:00am, one in the south bluff
meadow several hours later. The latter one was chasing a model
airplane for a while, then it broke off and almost nailed a bird
instead.
MERLIN - One sitting on a snag right in the middle of the same meadow.
Also a COOPERS & a RED-TAILED were in the general area.

PILEATED WOODPECKERS - a pair in the ravine along the loop trail. The
male almost did himself in when he drilled off a huge chunk of bark &
tree and it fell almost onto him. Together w/ a HAIRY, DOWNY &
FLICKER, it was a 4-woodpecker day.

HERMIT THRUSH - One down at the point where the trail from the south
beach begins to head up the stairs.

On the water were hundreds of WESTERN GREBE, dozens of HORNED GREBE,
many RED-NECKED GREBE, several WHITE-WINGED & SURF SCOTERS. One
PIGEON GUILLEMOT was the only alcid I got on. 3 LOONS flew by [at
different times], but I really need to improve my in-flight loon ID
skills.... About 15-20 SANDERLING wandered from one beach to the
other periodically.

Altogether, well worth the chilly wetness -- A good day.

Matt Bartels
Seattle WA
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