11:59am start - water level going down; most mudflats on the south side of Turning Basin #3 visible; those to the west gradually being exposed
12:40pm end

Tweeters,
Today marked the first time I've seen peeps at the river since May 3: Three LEAST SANDPIPERS were on the south mudflat. The KILLDEER count went up - 11. In addition, I had great views of all 3 OSPREY nestlings at the Hamm Creek nest. Only one adult was in the area during this time period.

The local PEREGRINE FALCON skimmed past me along the river, rose, and took a couple of soaring turns around the south end of TB3 (with lots of swallows zooming by it), then closed wings for a terrific power glide (about a 25-deg slope) directly east toward Boeing Field. I didn't see it rise after that. While it was soaring, I noted that it was missing at least three centrally located retrices.

Birds seen during this scan include the following:
Canada Goose (22)
Mallard (3)
Great Blue Heron
Osprey (1 adult; 3 nestlings)
Peregrine Falcon
Killdeer (11)
Least Sandpiper (3)
Glaucous-winged Gull (3)
Rock Pigeon (13)
American Crow (2)
Cliff Swallow (2)
Barn Swallow (4)
Swallow spp (>30 high overhead)
Marsh Wren (heard)
European Starling (~50)
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird (1; juv)
Brown-headed Cowbird (1; male)
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

May all your birds be identified,

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