11:36 start - water level very low with all mudflats (and then some)
visible (05:31 high tide - 10.4ft; 13:02 low tide - (-)2.4ft)
12:20 end

Tweeters,
Fairly strong north wind, high overcast clouds, fairly warm, and a very
low tide at Turning Basin #3. The N. Oxbow parking lot Ospreys were
active, with both birds at the nest box at times. One Osprey took
several dives at a passing Great Blue Heron, which departed the area.
(Given that there were more herons here than usual, what was it about
that particular bird? - Kinda like a traffic cop picking one speeder out
of many, I guess.) Two researchers were mucking about in the mud.

Five Mallard ducklings (not too old) were out on their own feeding in
the mud -- no adults anywhere near. A couple of American Crows were
working over exposed barnacles for a different sort of meal. One of the
crows took several passes at a Glaucous-winged Gull that landed on a
nearby piling.

Bird of the day: White-crowned Sparrow. Although they breed at the north
end of this facility, they don't often make it to the vicinity of TB3. I
heard one here early this morning, but wasn't sure one would be here
during my lunch scan -- but luck held. One was singing just at the
southeast side of TB3 as I was walking toward the river.

Birds seen during this scan:
Canada Goose (8, incl 3 goslings)
Mallard (12, incl 5 ducklings)
Bufflehead
Double-crested Cormorant (6)
Great Blue Heron (5, a season high)
Osprey (4)
Glaucous-winged Gull (10)
Rock Pigeon (13)
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow (7)
Violet-green Swallow (6, at least)
Cliff Swallow (12, at least)
Barn Swallow
Bewick's Wren (2)
American Robin (2)
European Starling (3)
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird (2 - both on the east side of the river, which is
unusual for TB3)
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch (2)
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow (2)

23 spp today; 40 YTD

May all your birds be identified,

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