Subject: Montlake Fill
Date: Sep 13 21:25:07 2003
From: B&P Bell - bellasoc at isomedia.com


Hi Tweets

I took my Seattle Audubon Beginning Birding class out to the Montlake
Fill this morning, and we had a really pleasant time and many
opportunities to study a variety of birds. The morning started out clear
and cool. The resident ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD near the CUH building put on
quite a show for us with repeated climbs and dives interspersed with
perching for views. The blackberry mounds just south of there was loaded
with HOUSE FINCHES that allowed the group to study them nicely. Three
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH dropped in next to them for comparison. We had many
BARN SWALLOWS overhead, and at least 20 VAUX'S SWIFTS flew through the
swallows. The light was ideal, coming over our shoulders so that the
differences in profiles, colors and flight habits showed very nicely.

There were many birds out on Union Bay, but all were severely backlit so
we moved on toward the central pond. On the way RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDs
were most obliging by perching and calling from the cattails. On the
central pond we had excellent views of the three NORTHERN PINTAIL and a
couple of GREEN-WINGED TEAL and MALLARDS. All of these ducks were still
in eclipse, but the comparison was nice. Along the western edge of the
pond was a juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER that was foraging, and that
eventually moved toward the southern end of the pond. Two LEAST
SANDPIPERS were at that end of the pond and the when they were side by
side it was almost comical, but everyone could certainly see the size
and behavior differences.

While we were watching the pond an OSPREY came in behind us and perched
in the dead Cottonwood trees along the edge of the bay. A little while
later we discovered a RED-TAILED HAWK on the ground beyond the north end
of the pond that seemed to be eating something. It flew to a tree and
perched, then flew down to the ground south of the tree and was
definitely chowing down. We watched for a while and the bird became
nervous and flew off. Walking over I discovered it had been consuming a
small GARTER SNAKE. We moved on so the bird might come back to finish
it's meal.

From another spot along the main trail we could see large rafts of
AMERICAN COOTS, many GADWALL and a long mud ridge packed shoulder to
shoulder with DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTs.

The sun was now high enough that we had better viewing of Union Bay with
many AMERICAN COOTS, GADWALL, a single PIED-BILLED GREBE, a couple of
GREAT BLUE HERONS, and a pair of WOOD DUCKS. While we were watching
these, two GREEN HERONS flew in toward the western edge of the bay. One
disappeared in the catttails, and one settled down on a log. We got
distant views of this one who eventually lifted off and flew back out of
sight. We then found that the other bird had moved out into view a
little closer, for good scope views.

Other birds seen during the morning included:
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
European Starling
Steller's Jay
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren - singing invisibly
Killdeer
Belted Kingfisher
Canada Goose
Cedar Waxwing

A great early fall morning (I know, I know it is not officially fall,
but it certainly felt like it). The best part for these new birders was
the cooperativeness of the birds and the chance to really study them. We
also had a chance to talk about the changes at the Fill and the desired
results down the line. After we finished some of the people had a chance
to look thru the big plant sale in the CUH parking lots.

You never know what to expect at the Fill.

Good Birding

Brian Bell
Woodinville, WA
bellasoc at isomedia.com