Hey tweets, best bird of the day at the Fill was a gorgeous EURASIAN WIGEON
swimming amongst the hundreds and hundreds of American Wigeons on Union Bay
this afternoon. The sun came out from behind the clouds and briefly shown a
ray that lit up the drake's head like fire.

I do owe a vote of thanks to the UW crew, who were paddling around (oaring?
stroking?) and a coach who decided that a little yelling might provide some
motivation to his galley slaves, I mean students. The coach reminded me of
the galley master in Ben Hur, when he turned to the drummer who was
methodically beating out the rowers' rhythm (boom....boom....boom....boom).
"Ramming speed," cried the galley master, and boomboomboomboomboom, the ship
shot forward. In the same way, "ramming speed" cried the coach (or something
similar) and the students' shells shot forward, causing all the ducks to
scatter in fright and settle much closer to shore. I have a feeling that
that Eurasian wigeon has been here awhile but too far out in the lake to be
spotted. I highly recommend going birding around 4 p.m. when the crew coach
is at his testiest. He also scared up two LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, who not
only took wing but were quite vocal about being disturbed. Also in the mix:
some CANVASBACKS, numerous RUDDY DUCKS, LESSER SCAUP, GREATER SCAUP, a
HOODED MERGANSER, and a COMMON MERGANSER.

Other highlights at the Fill today:
Cooper's Hawk
Greater White-fronted Goose
Wood Ducks (6 altogether) - Connie, Seattle

csidles at isomedia.com