Subject: [Tweeters] On the Duwamish - 03-29-2005
Date: Mar 29 13:33:27 2005
From: Desilvis, Denis J - denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com


12:35 start - water level extremely low with more than the usual
mudflats exposed (6:11 high tide - 11.1ft; 13:11 low tide - (minus)
0.7ft)
13:03 end

Tweeters,
Blustery wind from the south, fast-moving blanket of clouds spotted with
blue above, and a very low water level at Turning Basin #3. What is it
about a minus tide that brings out the researchers? (That's a rhetorical
question.) Four of the big suckers were stringing out their net and
collecting stuff along the edge of the restoration area. I don't know
how all four fit into that little Boston Whaler, but they did.

When the mud-walkers left, more gulls came out, but all in all it was
not that prolific a day for numbers. Except for the starlings: they were
using a lot of energy clinging to the beams of the towers around the
power substation. I felt their pain - for a time I was clenching my toes
inside my shoes trying to get a better grip as the wind buffeted me
about. (Today's approaches for landings at SeaTac must have been a
trying time for passengers. You could actually see normally level
orientation of approaching aircraft get changed with the wind gusts.)

Birds seen during this scan include the following:
Canada Goose (13)
Gadwall (4)
Mallard (3)
Bufflehead (7)
Double-crested Cormorant
Mew Gull (2)
Glaucous-winged Gull (10)
Rock Pigeon (9)
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow (4)
Bewick's Wren (2)
American Robin
European Starling (48)
Song Sparrow
House Finch (2)

May all your birds be identified,

Denis DeSilvis
Seattle, WA
mailto:denis.j.desilvis at boeing.com