Subject: [Tweeters] RN Phalaropes @ Edmonds & Bittern in Marsh
Date: Aug 4 20:09:19 2006
From: pslott - VariedThrush at comcast.net


Surprise! Took a quick trip to Edmonds about an hour before the 3:40
tide today. There were tons of Auklets (maybe 50) and a few Pigeon
Guillemots, but as I left the end of the pier to return to shore 3
little RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were spinning in the water just north of
the pier. Great looks at these fabulous Aves. Purple Martins were
zooming everywhere and nearly all the gourds looked occupied. Hungry
mouths were visible in a couple of the gourds.

Then, at the Marsh I saw a baby AMERICAN BITTERN in the reeds at Station
3 just left of several tall, dead cattail stalks. This very downy, pale
bird came out of the reeds and stretched up its long, lumpy streaked
neck that was too large at the base to be another heron. It stretched
its neck several times and later appeared to be trying to fly catch
briefly. There was no dark cap like a Green Heron juvenile and the beak
was too large at the base. It stayed on the mudflats allowing me good
viewing, although as the sun moved down the light became poorer. I
watched this bird well over an hour. This was the first time I've seen
Bittern at the Edmonds Marsh. The marsh has not looked this lush in
years and the cattails have retreated quite far upstream. This location
never ceases to amaze me with new and unexpected species. Although the
species count may not be high on any given day, the quality, as Marv
says, is well worth it.

Patricia S. Lott
Seattle, WA
mail to: VariedThrush at comcast.net