Currently in temporary quarters near Juanita Bay Park and doing morning
walks every other day or so. Highlights from the past week:

Watching progress of a Downy Woodpecker excavating a hole in a snag just a
few feet from the boardwalk. First time we saw him he couldn't get all the
way in, a few days later (Thanksgiving morning) he was in all the way and
occasionally popping out---got some photos.

Great variety of ducks since late October (when we got here): Mallard,
Gadwall, Bufflehead, Wood, Ring-neck, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal
(we have not been seeing American Wigeon except one day, since the first
week)

Always also see the usual: Double-crested Cormorants, Pied-bill Grebe, lots
of Coots of course, occasionally Canada Goose, Bald Eagle about every other
time, a Merlin the other day, a few other raptors. Quite a few Red-Wing
Blackbirds.

Have seen 3-6 Snipe most times, usually resting on the wood "raft" island at
the west side of park.

Saw a pair of Downies and a Hairy in the same tree, close to the old roadway
boardwalk, this morning around 9:45 a.m. Lots of vocalizing (I think from
the male Downy---the sun was backlighting them, hard to see details).

Last week we saw a pair of otter close to the old roadway, both popped heads
up out of water to stare at us for several moments before swimming away.

We are just really enjoying the great variety of ducks at this time of year
(the little Green-winged Teals are fun to watch, always in motion).

That's it for today (so far---we're next to a greenbelt so who knows?)

Danene Warnock
Kirkland, WA
mailto:beachdee at hotmail.com