I just returned from Lake Sam park, and did not see the sparrow (but then, I
wasn't looking) but did see nine (nine!!) bald eagles!!! A juvenile and an
adult were in the cottonwood tree, and the others were wheeling around over
the water. Two adults were tussling with each other, one chasing the other
around looking like he meant business. At one point, one flipped over, they
locked talons and both went spinning around as they fell from the sky. I had
heard about this but never seen it. Amazing! They finally crashed into the
tree where the first two were perched, breaking off branches as they fell.
Then both took off again, and the chasing ceased. One almost-adult came to
the tree, soaking wet, and perched. The rest of them wheeled in a great
column over the lake circling higher and higher. The tiny speck at the top
of the column turned out to be a red-tail, keeping an eye on the eagles from
above.

Later, on the other side of the park, we witnessed an osprey catch a small
fish just off the swimming area. Two of the adult eagles came and harassed
it till it dropped the fish. They swooped down to get it, but we couldn't
tell if they succeeded or not.

Wow!!

Christy Anderson
Bellevue

-----Original Message-----
From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Carl Haynie
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 10:15 AM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, King County

Tweets,

This morning before work, I dropped by for some birding at Lake Sammamish
State Park. Half way between the lake and the foot bridge, on the west side
of Issaquah Creek and atop a Douglas Fir (I think), was a familiar song from
my days of birding northern Michigan. For a frustrating 10 minutes I
strained to see the source of the song which remained fixed in the upper
canopy.

The song was an insect-like, lazily-delivered, doubled and some-
times tripled "b-z-z-z-z-z b-z-z-z-z" all on the same pitch.
About 10 seconds would elapse between phrases. The first part of doubled
phrases was longer in duration than the second part.
This bird sang for all of 10 minutes while I strained to find it.

Then a sparrow-sized brown bird dropped from the tree tops and into some
thick lower canopy. I could see from the naked eye that the underparts
appeared unmarked and were an off-white, but that was it. I figured that
seeing it lower down would be a cinch. Wrong!! I stayed another 15 minutes
searching all around before giving up (it never sang again).

At the point where Issaquah Creek drains into the lake, there were 3
Spottted Sandpipers and an amazing 6 adult Bald Eagles,
3 in the cottonwoods nearby and 3 more along the shoreline near the n.w. end
of the park. An 3rd-year Bald Eagle was also counted as were an Osprey and
a Cooper's Hawk.

Wilson's, Orange-crowned, Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped, and Yellow Warblers
were all singing away this morning along with Swainson's Thrushes, Willow
Flycatchers, and Western Wood-Pewee.

Great morning to be out.

Carl Haynie
Sammamish, WA
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