11:25am start - water level high, but dropping; higher mudflats visible
12:11pm end

Tweeters,
One OSPREY returned to the Hamm Creek nest site today (7:13am), and was on the nest platform from about 9:30am until it dove for a fish at 11:58am, returning empty-taloned to a nearby electrical pole. It attempted to catch another fish shortly thereafter, with the same negative results, and flew up to the catwalk of the west-bank power tower. After a couple of minutes, it flew downstream. Meanwhile, back at Turning Basin #3 (TB3), a river otter, with a large flat fish hanging from its mouth, climbed up on the log that's attached by a rope to the pier across from my position, and proceeded to have a big lunch. That's the second time this week I've seen an otter with a large flatfish.

When I hauled my scope down to the area directly across from Hamm Creek, I noticed--once again--that WESTERN GREBES were feeding in the Duwamish at that point. During this entire winter, I've not seen one WEGR at TB3, but have usually seen at least one when I went downstream 300+ meters opposite Hamm Creek. Must be something there that the grebes like, but that's not available at TB3.

MEW GULLS -- 71 of them -- were packed on the small mudflat directly to the south of my position. Most had their heads tucked into their mantles, snoozing.

Birds seen during this scan include the following:

Canada Goose (1 at TB3, but at least 8 at Hamm Creek)
Gadwall (2; a pair)
Bufflehead (4; 3 males, 1 female at TB3; a pair at Hamm Creek)
Western Grebe (1 at Hamm Creek)
Double-crested Cormorant (4)
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Mew Gull (71)
Glaucous-winged Gull (16)
Rock Pigeon (9)
Belted Kingfisher (heard at Hamm Creek; I haven't seen one at TB3 for quite some time)
American Crow (4 at TB3; 16 at Hamm Creek, two of which harassed the Osprey after it dove into the water)
Black-capped Chickadee
Bewick's Wren
American Robin
European Starling (30)
Song Sparrow (2)
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch (2; probable pair)

May all your birds be identified,

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