Subject: To grebe not to grebe
Date: Feb 23 23:01:12 2004
From: fsharpe at sfu.ca - fsharpe at sfu.ca


Tweets,

For the past two days, I have observed a dense flock of grebes
south of Shine near the west end of the Hood Canal bridge.
They are just out of scope range
to clinch the ID between horned and eared grebe.
It is possible to differentiate these two species on behavioral cues?
The grebes remain in a dense knot of approx. 200 synchronously diving,
hyper-active birds.
There is also the typical smattering of horned grebes about the bay
Any thoughts?

Also present
520 western grebes
70 Brant
10 Oldsquaw
1 red-throated loon

Quite a raucous show on these calm afternoons

Along the bluff towards Thorndyke Bay, there is fine band
of timber with old-growth characteristics. Over the last
few days there has been:
1 goshawk
1 barred owl
1 pygmy owl
1 screech owl
3 eagles
2 pairs of pileated woodpeckers
and more singing Hutton's vireos
then you can shake a stick at
The coltsfoot on the bluff is in full bloom
I also found a skinned mink on the path
perhaps a meal for the barred owl

Fred Sharpe
Lake Crescent WA
fsharpe at sfu.ca