Subject: [Tweeters] On the Duwamish - 03-21-2005
Date: Mar 21 14:33:30 2005
From: Desilvis, Denis J - denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com
12:35 start - water level med-high, with edges of some mudflats visible
(9:04 low tide - 6.6ft; 13:27 high tide - 8.6ft)
13:10 end
Chill south breeze, mostly cloudy skies, and the return of The Shadow to
Turning Basin #3. The last time I saw The Shadow (aka Hamm Creek
PEREGRINE FALCON - ) was Feb 15. When seen from above, and it's moving
fast, this falcon definitely takes on a persona I call "The Shadow."
Today, it was perched atop the west power tower when I stepped outside
at 12:35, and was alert, but in a relaxed pose (I couldn't see legs to
check for bands). At 13:06, four Rock Pigeons landed amongst the loafing
Canada geese at what remained of the mudflat along the edge of the
restoration peninsula. As I put down my bins after checking out the
pigeons, The Shadow appeared, less than a foot off the water (surface
effect at this height?), wings slightly bowed, hurtling south toward the
ROPIs. The quick dash was unrewarded, and a feint toward other pigeons
seemed half-hearted. The falcon then rose, and circled toward the south,
stirring up the pigeons on the power lines well south of TB3.
Twenty-two MEW GULLS were loafing in the shallow water directly south of
me where the large mudflat is visible when the water level is lower.
They flew up shortly after the falcon stirred up things, and landed in
the middle of TB3, where they were joined by seven more MEGUs that came
"partying" in: darting, swooping, soaring, and having what looked like
fun.
Tough call: I may have heard a Marsh Wren singing from somewhere near
the restoration area, but a sudden outburst of CAGO "honking" drowned
out the sound. I'll continue checking this week.
Birds seen during this scan include the following:
Canada Goose (18)
Gadwall (3)
Mallard (4)
Bufflehead (4)
Double-crested Cormorant (4)
Peregrine Falcon
Mew Gull (29)
Glaucous-winged Gull (13)
Rock Pigeon (51)
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow (3)
Bewick's Wren
European Starling (31)
Song Sparrow (2)
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
May all your birds be identified,
Denis DeSilvis
Seattle, WA
mailto:denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com