12:25 start - water level just above mid-level, with some mudflats
visible and more being exposed as the tide ebbs (08:59 high tide -
8.5ft; 16:18 low tide - (-)0.5ft)
12:57 end

Tweeters,
Cloudy skies and a cool south breeze at Turning Basin #3. The action of
the day was on the south shoreline, where a raccoon was foraging in the
mud while being dive-bombed by crows. After a time, six Mallards joined
the two Gadwall that were just offshore. As the raccoon moved along to
the east, the Mallards followed. After a crow came close to hitting the
raccoon, it turned around and charged out toward the Mallards, which
didn't move all that quickly to get out of the area. The raccoon got out
of the water, foraging to the west, with the Mallards still following
along. Another charge by the raccoon, only a little deeper into the
water. The Mallards moved westward. At that point, the raccoon loped
back toward the embankment and into what I thought was a path through
the vegetation.

The two Oxbow Ospreys, which were at their light-standard nest, had an
interloper (poss from the nest at the USPS sorting facility to the
southwest?) circle high overhead. Lots of calling, etc.

I've noticed that the female Kingfisher quite often uses the stormwater
runnoff stream behind the restoration peninsula as a hunting "ground."

Note: I failed to note that a harbor seal was swimming near the Boeing
bridge yesterday. First I've seen for some time.

Bird of the day: Three Common Mergansers were foraging near the
restoration peninsula, then went ashore to preen. It looks as if there's
an adult pair, and an immature.

Birds seen during this scan:
Canada Goose (4, incl two goslings)
Gadwall (2)
Mallard (6)
Bufflehead
Common Merganser (3)
Double-crested Cormorant (2)
Great Blue Heron (2)
Osprey (5)
Killdeer (2)
Glaucous-winged Gull (4)
Rock Pigeon (10)
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow (8)
Violet-green Swallow (many)
Cliff Swallow (many)
American Robin
European Starling (2)
Song Sparrow (2)
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch (2)
House Sparrow (3)


May all your birds be identified,

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