Did a quick waterfowl survey this morning at Capitol Lake in downtown
Olympia. Scaup numbers are getting larger but Wigeon are nowhere near normal
numbers (could be early or maybe the lack of milfoil).
21 P/B Grebe
1 Horned Grebe
478 Scaup sp (both species present)
154 American Wigeon
244 Bufflehead
15 Mallard (they seemd to be off somewhere else this AM, usually much higher
numbers)
30 Gadwall
35 R/N Duck
1 REDHEAD (grungy male in with large scaup flock at the bridge between north
and south lobe)
3 Ruddy Duck
2 Northern Pintail (drakes in small pond by interpretive center)
5 Surf Scoter (on south lobe)
5 Northern Shoveler
7 Hooded Merganser
1 Goldeneye species

Also Pipits were heard flying over at one point.

Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA