11:40am start - water level very low (-1+ tide at 11:43am) with all mudflats exposed
12:12pm end

Tweeters,
Low water, virtually no wind, and warm, with sunny skies here at Turning Basin #3 (TB3) on the penultimate day of August. Both species and count numbers were low, but two GREEN-WINGED TEAL livened up the usual scene. Not a single Eu. Starling was about, which seems unusual, given the exposed mudflats. A lone LEAST SANDPIPER flew in from the southeast part of the channel, then overflew the west bank of TB3, circling once, then heading downriver.

A harbor seal cruised off the restoration peninsula at the south side of TB3. Two other mammals -- human females -- outfitted in hip waders, were collecting samples on the east side of the stormwater channel.

Birds seen during this scan include the following:
Canada Goose (8; including one with a broken wing feeding on the mudflat below me)
Mallard (5)
Green-winged Teal (2)
Double-crested Cormorant (4)
Great Blue Heron
Osprey (3; two on the west power tower and one at the nesting platform near Hamm Creek)
Least Sandpiper
Glaucous-winged Gull (9; including one very persistent juv begging successfully from (presumably) a parent bird)
Rock Pigeon (27)
Belted Kingfisher (successfully fishing near the pier across from me)
American Crow (6)
Barn Swallow
American Goldfinch (2)

May all your birds be identified,

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