11:38 start - Water level low and dropping with more of the mudflats
than normal showing (6:46 high tide (10.3ft); 14:07 low tide (-1.2ft).
12:13 end

Tweeters,
Mostly sunny, with a cold, brisk SW breeze, and heading toward a minus
tide today at Turning Basin #3 (TB3). With a couple of hours to go until
low water, the stormwater channel behind the restoration peninsula was
pretty dry. Two Western Grebes were foraging toward the northwest side
of TB3. What's the attraction here for the grebes, which heretofore
seemed to "shun" this part of the river? Was it the removal of the pier
and subsequent change in habitat? Was the current altered in some way?
Inquiring minds want to know, but in the meantime, there's the enjoyment
of seeing yet another species regularly being seen at TB3.

Bird of the Day: The Caspian Tern that carved out a spot amongst the
flock of Mew Gulls loafing on the fairly dry mud of the restoration
peninsula. Besides the black-crowned head as a "looks like something
different over there," there was the large enough "personal space"
around the tern to be very noticeable.

Three researchers were taking samples in one area of the west bank.
Looks as if it's Spring.

Birds seen during this scan include the following:
Canada Goose (2)
Gadwall (2)
Mallard (6)
Bufflehead (4)
Western Grebe (2)
Double-crested Cormorant (8)
Osprey (3)
Mew Gull (60)
Glaucous-winged Gull (15)
Caspian Tern
Rock Pigeon (32, including one without any retrices -- really weird
looking)
American Crow (2)
Swallow spp (Hamm Creek flyers) (15+)
Bewick's Wren
European Starling (3)
Song Sparrow
House Finch (2)
House Sparrow (2)

May all your birds be identified,

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