Tweeters, I was able to spend about an hour at the Kent Ponds today from
about 11-12. When I arrived there were a few people scanning the middle
channel and a couple in the tower with no Baikal seen yet. We got a call on
the walkie-talkie that the Teal was in the scope on the South Tower. I ran
over to the tower and arrived up top just as the bird disappeared into the
willows. Eventually we were all gathered up top of the tower scanning the
left (closest) edge of the channel where the bird was last seen. I was able
to get two 1 second views of the BAIKAL TEAL as it swam out of the willows
and right back in. Very frustrating for the visiting birders and myself. A
birder from Orange County originally found the bird and got to watch it swim
from the log left across the channel. I had to leave for a meeting so I
hope the bird eventually made an appearance for the rest of the crew.

Also around: 1 Bald Eagle, Canvasback, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, usual waterfowl.
I didn't see any of the hybrid Gadwall birds but I didn't have much time to
scan.

Jason Paulios
Jpaulios at earthlink.net
Olympia, WA