Subject: Green Rd Pond, How Bizarre!
Date: Jul 4 22:14:33 2004
From: Guy McWethy - lguy_mcw at yahoo.com


Greetings Tweeters!
On my way back home from the Okanagan and Skagit
(successful for Alder Flycatcher, Boreal Chickadee,
and 3-Toed Woodpecker), I stopped at the Green Road
Ponds north of Burlington in an attempt to see the
Black Tern, today (July 4). The Tern was a no-show,
but I encountered several oddities.
There was a group of at least 20 Common Ravens soaring
above the hill to the north of the ponds. (what do you
call a group of Ravens? I know it is a Murder of
Crows, but what about Ravens? A Slaughter? A Lenore?
A Poe?) They were coming in from all directions,
joining the group, then peeling off again in all
directions by ones and twos. The peak was at least 20
Ravens (with a few crows thrown in), but there were
MANY ravens all around for my whole visit. Probably
the most ravens I've seen in one spot ever! Very
Cool!

I also saw (and got some photos) of an Anomolous Tree
Swallow. It was a juvenile (begging food from a
parent), but it's back was almost a silvery gray
color. Very distinctive when flying. I would compare
it's upper wing color to that of a spotted sandpiper,
maybe even lighter. It was hanging around the barn
across from the marsh on Green Road. It landed on
some wires and on the fence there on several
occasions. All the upper surfaces were very pale
gray, and the beak was at least partially yellow. Its
(presumed) sibling was a normal color, as was the
parent it was begging food from. If I had not seen it
begging food, I would have had no IDEA what kind of
swallow it was! VERY interesting!
Good Birding!
Guy McWethy

=====
Guy McWethy
Renton, WA
mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com



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