Hi Tweeters,

While driving to work this morning on some icy roads and being kindly encouraged along by a tailgating semi, I saw two swans flying over Nisqually NWR. They were heading in the direction of I-5, although they were still over the refuge when I lost sight of them. I couldn't tell, from the angle and distance, which species they were. I also saw a Bald Eagle (flying over the refuge) and a Sharp-shinned Hawk on a light pole just past the refuge. I'm considering starting a 60 mph check list.

And now for the backyard mystery. I returned home yesterday afternoon after a hiatus of about 3 hours. My dogs were inside freaking out and wanting to go into the backyard. As soon as they were outside, they ran to what I could see was a young opossum carcass. It hadn't been there when I left a few hours earlier. It's abdomen in the vicinity of what I think was its liver was torn open. There was a Raven calling from a nearby tree, a few calling Crows nearby, and two circling Bald Eagles above. Both were very vocal. One actually swooped down quite low, and soared between an open forested area just behind my yard, before rejoining its mate and commencing to kvetch again. Do Bald Eagles kill half-grown opossums?

Good Birding,

Lonnie Somer
Olympia, WA
wheelermombi at comcast.net