Subject: [Tweeters] Discovery Park birds 10-18
Date: Oct 18 17:55:10 2005
From: Matt Dufort - zeledonia at yahoo.com


Hi Tweeters,



Had a nice evening at Discovery Park today, with a number of interesting
birds in a few hours or traipsing around the park.



I walked from the north parking lot down to the beach and along the beach to
the lighthouse.



>From the meadow by the North Parking lot, I had a flyover flock of about 40
Snow Geese, calling loudly and flying south.



Passerines were somewhat scarce, but there were a few Fox Sparrows and
Golden-crowned Sparrows. The shrubs and low trees along the beach were full
of Ruby-crowned Kinglets.



I made my way down the beach to the lighthouse, periodically scanning the
water. The biggest surprise was a lone Cassin's Auklet just northwest of
the lighthouse, swimming among large numbers of gulls and Western Grebes. I
watched the bird from about 5:45 to 6:00 as it swam slowly northward. When
first spotted, it was about 100 yards offshore, but gradually moved further
out into the sound. It reared up and flapped several times, showing its
short, rounded wings and grey belly. I moved on as the fading light and
growing distance made viewing difficult.



Other birds on the water included a few Heermann's Gulls with numerous Mew
and Glaucous-winged/Westerns, 1 Eared Grebe, 4 Red-necked Grebes, and about
15 Horned Grebes along with hundreds of Westerns. Numerous Harbor Seals
were out in the sound, and appeared to be actively feeding. The only
shorebirds I found along the beach and rocks were 4 Sanderlings.



The long freshwater pond along the north beach was packed with Mallards and
Wigeon, including one drake Eurasian Wigeon. I learned that it's a bad idea
to walk on the beach side of the pond, as it really spooked the ducks,
though they didn't seem bothered by runners on the main path just inland
from the pond.



As I made my way back to the car, I found a single Mourning Dove in a small
meadow south of the wastewater treatment plant - another nice surprise.



All in all a great way to spend an evening, and one of the best days I've
had at Discovery.



Good birding,



Matt Dufort

Seattle