I got to the Tracyton Boat Launch a little after 10 and stayed for about an
hour today. The tide was out but that didn't mean the birds were way out!
It was gray and drizzle-y but calm, and not dtoo cold to stand out in the
open for over an hour.

The first bird to catch my eye was an adult BALD EAGLE atop a piling
munching on something. Couldn't tell what it was, but it looked fishy.
After that I heard a huge squawking commotion and turned around to see two
male RING-NECKED PHEASANTS fighting, chasing each other on foot across
yards, thru the air into the trees. They ended up on the ground kind of
squaring off into a stare-down, then one trudged slowly away. Great views
during the 5 min or so this little drama was unfolding. What gorgeous birds
they are! I think it was the best view of these guys I've ever had, really
enjoyed looking at them.

Turning my attention to the water, I saw three female and one HOODED
MERGANSER feeding in the shallows. Close by was a COMMON LOON about 90%
into basic plumage. Farther out into the water was a raft of scoters. Yup,
in two weeks' time a few scoters have become many, and "raft" truly was the
right word to use. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS outnumbered the SURF SCOTERS, but
both species were well-represented. There were more Common Loons near the
rafter of scoters, and one of them still sported alternate plumage. I saw
at least two WESTERN GREBES, as well as RED-NECKED GREBES. A lone KILLDEER
was on the shore with a bunch of crows (not sure if Am or NW). AMERICAN
WIGEON are starting to come in. A few SONG SPARROWS were singing, AMERICAN
ROBINS were trying to chash a HOUSE FINCH out of a bare tree, and while that
little fracas ensued a GREAT BLUE HERON flew into a nearby still-in-leaf
deciduous tree. There were a couple of ducks too far out for me to tell if
they were female or juvenile RING-NECKED or SCAUP, couldn't remember the
tell-tale field marks and Sibley was at home. STELLER'S JAYS flew back and
forth, and the bird song/calls were punctuated by the clunk of mussels or
clams as gulls and crows dropped them, trying to break them open.

In one spot the surface of the water looked really weird so I scoped it and
discovered it was littered with feathers. Molt? A kill? Who knows.

Speaking of AMERICAN WIGEON, wasn't there an article in a recent "Birding"
mag about AM-EU Wigeon hybridization?? I looked thru my pile of saved
articles and can't find it, so if anyone has it and wouldn't mind scanning
and emailing me a copy I'd be much obliged. There were a couple of
funky-looking AMWI in the bunch I saw and it'd be fun to review the article
and compare it to the birds.

Good birding,
Mary

Mary Klein
Bremerton WA
CelloBird at seanet.com