Subject: On the Duwamish - 4-27-2004 mid-morning quick-look
Date: Apr 27 10:17:34 2004
From: Desilvis, Denis J - denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com


9:23am start
9:32am end

Tweeters,
The river called me this morning and I'm glad I listened. Four LEAST SANDPIPERS were on the mudbank near the south shore--they took off and headed downriver (north) right past the west-bank power tower, on which perched a PEREGRINE FALCON. The falcon didn't move, but the peeps seemed to accelerate and drop altitude, then banked quickly several times. (First look at the falcon since April 6.) The OSPREYS copulated on the nest platform, and the female appears, as I mentioned yesterday, to be incubating. A male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD sang melodiously (!) from a butterfly bush about 15 feet away. This is only the second time I've seen or heard one here (last 7-01-2003).

Birds seen during this quick-look:
Canada Goose (3)
Gadwall (2)
Mallard (3 plus what might be the same dozen ducklings seen yesterday)
Bufflehead (3)
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser (3)
Osprey (2)
Peregrine Falcon
Least Sandpiper (4)
Glaucous-winged Gull (2)
Rock Pigeon (6)
American Crow (5)
Violet-green Swallow (2)
Bewick's Wren
European Starling (3)
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch (2)

May all your birds be identified,

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