Hey Tweets,



My wife and I took a short trip down to the Ballard locks and Kiwanis Ravine
this morning. Surprisingly little was stirring, but we did come across the
usual herons, kingfishers and gulls hanging out on the railings and cables
around the locks. We also got our first look at the "smolt slides" that
they have installed to ease the passage of young salmon from Lake Union to
the sound. They are quite interesting and you can really see the young fish
moving through them. The highlight of the morning was a female Belted
Kingfisher that gave us very close views as she sat on a nearby railing. At
one point she yawned, but through my camera lens the yawn translated to
something that appears more like a good belly laugh. You can see the photos
in the new "Kingfishers I" gallery on my website if you wish
(http://www.goatislandimages.com/photogalleries.htm).



Here's our complete list from this morning:



Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Western Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Europen Starling

House Sparrow

Rock Pigeon

American Goldfinch

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Anna's Hummingbird

Black-capped Chickadee

Bushtit (Adults + fledgling young)

American Crow (+ active nest in Kiwanis Ravine)

Barn Swallow

Mallard

Canada Goose

Greylag Goose (3 of the domestic variety hanging out West of the locks)



Kevin Mack

Edmonds, WA

www.goatislandimages.com <http://www.goatislandimages.com/>