for the past few weeks, i've not birded much for a variety of reasons, but
if the past week or so is any indication, the rest of the birding year
should make up for it...

seward park is a new location for me, about 5 or so miles southeast of
downtown seattle... not sure why it's taken me forever to get down there
and walk around, but it won't be years before the next visit...

among the more interesting birds were HELMETED GUINEA FOWL, at least two of
which are wandering seward park around picnic areas 4 and 5... if i've
googled correctly, they should be about 7000 miles east-southeast of
seattle, south of the sahara desert in central/southern africa... i've been
told there have been as many as four in that area (for at least the last
year, maybe longer), but i've only seen the same two for the past week...
one of them has either a deformity or a healed injury to its left foot, but
seems to be doing well otherwise... most of the people i talked to knew
about these birds, and a fair percentage feed them on a regular basis
(cracked corn, bird seed, etc)... considering the eagles and other
carnivores around, and the difference between their normal habitat and
seward park, i'd have to say these two have acclimated fairly well... as
they don't fly well, it's obvious they are/were local escapees...

if anyone knows more about the history of these guineas, i'd appreciate
hearing it... thanx!

also seen/heard at the park were several OSPREY, at least two adult BALD
EAGLES and one juvenile, steller's jays by the dozens, american crows by the
hundreds, and a HUTTON'S VIREO... while i was there, one gentleman also
reported one MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER and a pair of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS...

===

earlier today, i'm finally back at juanita bay park, and everyone i talk to
is telling me they haven't seen much while i've been "unavailable", though
that was thrown out the window within the first ten minutes... a VIRGINIA
RAIL or ten were squaking up a storm at the base of the western boardwalk,
and several people were trying to find them... within ten minutes, i had
seen 4, but only for a split second each time as they exited one reed bed
for another...

an hour later, i've just seen a fifth on the end of the middle boardwalk,
and i'm talking with folks about the morning when i notice a gentleman with
a nice camera/lens combo; he's intent on a spot not far from the end of the
boardwalk...

he's got a VIRA, and it's posing... for the next 3-4 minutes, three of us
are taking photos as quickly as we can before he also heads into the reeds
and invisibility...

i think it's breeding season, and someone has turned on the VIRA's stupid
gene (grin)...

my website's Photos of the Month have been updated accordingly for those who
would like to see some of these cuties...

also seen at JBP: hundreds of tree swallows, numerous downy woodpeckers,
over 40 bufflehead, pied-billed grebes by the dozens, several pair of WOOD
DUCK (most of which were on forbes creek), and "Whitewall", our male
red-winged blackbird, partial albino... there is a report that our OSPREY
returned 5 days ago, so i'll be on the lookout... to the best of my
knowledge, he was not seen this morning...

===

lastly: while at seward park on the south beach, i noticed a bird i would
have sworn was a greylag goose: white body, orange bill and legs...
problem? it's about 1/3 to 1/2 smaller than a mallard hen... do they grow
them that small, or is this something else? photos of this guy are on my
website under "Who is This?"... if you know, please reply off-list...

enjoy!

00 caren
http://www.parkgallery.org
seward park, juanita bay park
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