Breaker Laker, Pacific Co. - 02/24/2005

The gate's still intact with no apparent trauma. The BEAVER
have been doing creative things at the usual spot.

Lots of ducks on Briscoe Lake including 3 new species
NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER and AMERICAN COOT (okay,
the coot's not a duck, but it acts like one). A MERLIN was
chasing AMERICAN ROBINS at the north end of the property.

And then there's the mystery call. I still haven't heard
and likely suggestions for the non-avian, bell-like "peenk"
call. Maybe I'll be able to get some recordings.

Birds seen (in taxonomic order):

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 1
Gadwall (Anas strepera) 6
American Wigeon (Anas americana) 68
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 35
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 2 [1]
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 1 [2]
Green-Winged Teal (Anas crecca) 8
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Merlin (Falco columbarius) 1
American Coot (Fulica americana) 1 [3]
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 3
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 3
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 20
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 10
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens) 6
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) 16
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 14
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 23
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 4
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 24
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 8
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 3
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 10
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 6
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 8
Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) 1
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) 1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 3

Footnotes:

[1] first time noted
[2] first time noted
[3] first time noted

Total number of species seen: 34


--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

If you want to end war and stuff, you've got to sing loud
- Arlo Guthrie