Tweeters,

After walking 5 or 6 miles a day on the Long Beach Peninsula last
weekend (it was discouraging conservation-wise, but I?ll try to post
something), I got cabin fever during the week. This morning I dressed
for possible snow and rain and took off down the hill toward Carkeek
Park right after a squall let up and sun began to peak through. My
timing could not?ve been better. Everyone was singing, and a little
Bushtit let me approach within ten feet as he sang his high-pitched song
and flicked his tail enticingly from the top of an rhododendron downhill
of me. In the park, Orange-crowned Warblers sang at the top of the
ravine, but the only hummers that I saw were Anna?s. A flock of 20
BONAPARTE?S GULLS held sway at the mouth of Piper?s Creek on the beach
and 4 BRANT looked barely bigger than all the crows there. Surf Scoters
were out a bit and plenty of Barrow?s Goldeneye still graced the beach.
A few widgeon were present. The walk to Golden Gardens produced 2 Osprey
hovering and crying as a gull and a crow chased them for the food they'd
caught. A couple Bald Eagles looked out to sea majestically as I walked
beneath their snags. I didn?t notice until later the 2 Horned Grebes in
breeding plumage at the point above Golden Gardens because I was
distracted by all the Brant. I counted 110, but then I rounded the
point. Five hundred (500) BRANT swam at the edge of the 1.1? low tide
eating and talking about migration with great enthusiasm. The beach is
so narrow here that I had to pass within 50 feet of them, but by keeping
my eyes down I was able to keep them from flying. People and dogs were
all over the beach here, but the people kept leashes on, except for the
few small dogs that were completely uninterested in such large birds.
One man came back on my way back north, and asked me questions about the
geese since I lingered, concerned that he was getting too close and
causing a few to fly. I explained about the eelgrass and migration and
thanked him for his interest. He was very nice.

The owners of dogs at Blue Ridge annoyed me. All alone for the walk from
Carkeek, here I found 3 humans and 8 dogs, all off the leash. I don?t
know leash laws at Blue Ridge; this was the first time I?ve tried this
walk. These were all big dogs. I don?t get it. My last dog, in college,
was a wonderful medium-sized, part Samoyed mutt. She was fabulous and we
went everywhere together. Since then I?ve been too busy or too sick to
be responsible for a dog. Now, there are endless leash laws and
forbidden places (like Carkeek, where I love best to go) and there is a
proliferation of dogs; big dogs. Why does anyone in the city need 3
dogs? I wanted protection and companionship when I lived alone, but I
didn?t need 3 dogs. Well, you?ll probably jump all over me, but I just
find it hard to understand. Why does everyone, especially rich people,
need 3 dogs?

Dogs are forbidden on the beach at Carkeek. The whole 215 acres are a
wildlife refuge and leash laws must be obeyed in the park. Nevertheless,
the owner taking his dog on the beach when I returned did his best to
have a yelling contest with me about the matter. However, I thanked him
for pointing out that I could?ve taken a bag of bottles and cans up from
the beach when I returned, as he did. I felt frightened by his anger,
nevertheless, and did my best to take obscure paths back to my home.

Right now, hail, then snow have covered the ground. I'm enjoying a hot
toddy and bid you, Good Birding.

Patricia S. Lott
Seattle, WA
mail to: VariedThrush at comcast.net