Dennis: Nutria have been showing up on the Montlake Fill for several years, and there appears now to be an established family group, of whom I've seen as many as four at one time (last spring). A few days ago I watched one in the main pond climb out of the water and onto its feeding/grooming platform, which is a foot or so above water in one of the low shrubby trees that line the western edge of the pond. It groomed itself thoroughly for about 15 minutes, unfazed by a human standing 15' away, but always with a wary eye on me.

James West
1226 N. 47th Street
Seattle, WA 98103


----- Original Message -----
From: Dennis Paulson
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 4:39 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Montlake Fill birding (and mammaling)


Hello, tweets.


Netta Smith and I are just back (3/10/06) from a few hours digiscoping at Montlake Fill in Seattle. It was sunny when we arrived, but we just beat a rain storm back to the car.


There were a few highlights, in addition to the perennial fun of taking photos.


One adult Greater White-fronted Goose at southwest corner, feeding with Canadas. Ridiculously tame.


About 90 Cackling Geese, probably all minima although a few had somewhat lighter breasts, at the north end. A few big moffitti Canada Geese were grazing with them, and I finally got photos of the two together, something I had been hoping for.


One male Eurasian Wigeon with hordes of American. It's WHEEE-you whistle really stands out against the lower-pitched whew-WHEW-whew of the Americans. There was no female with the Eurasian.


One (Audubon's) Yellow-rumped Warbler getting breeding plumage.


At least a half-dozen Nutrias were the big surprise to me. I hadn't been to the fill in a long time, and had never seen them there before. Does anyone know of the earliest sightings? I wonder if they've reached Lake Washington on their own from the south, or if this was another introduction. They are surprisingly tame, and we walked up to within a few feet of one of them grazing in the tall grass. It didn't seem at all afraid, just kept grazing as it moved slowly away.


-----

Dennis Paulson

1724 NE 98 St.

Seattle, WA 98115

206-528-1382





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