In preparation for my Saturday BHAS birdwalk around the downtown Olympia area, I did a brief survey. Rather disappointing in some ways. The northern basin of Capitol Lake had big flocks of Scaup, both kinds, Buffleheads, some Ruddy Ducks, and a few of the usual dabbling ducks. The southern basin had more of the same, with a huge congregation of Wigeon at the south end (I didn't notice any of the Eurasian flavor). The marshy pond just south of the lake had a great showing of Shovelers, Gadwall, and Hooded Mergansers, but none of the Green-winged Teal that I always count on. I didn't see a single Ring-neck, Goldeneye, Redhead, or Canvasback, which were around in good numbers last winter; I always like to show them as further examples of the bay and sea ducks. Hardly anything at the Port of Olympia peninsula, by KGY, except the usual cormorants way out. Very little along West Bay Drive. What in hell is happening to everything? How am I gonna give people an excellent lesson on categories of ducks and identification? If anyone has seen a greater variety of water birds (not just ducks) around this area, please let me know.

Burt Guttman
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, WA 98505 guttmanb at evergreen.edu
Home: 7334 Holmes Island Road S. E., Olympia, 98503