Howdy Tweeterdom,

For those in the Shoreline area that may have interest, Bob Phelps asked me yesterday to pass along that he observed an American Dipper swimming and hanging around in Boeing Creek on Wednesday of this week and thought others in the area may be interested if out in that area - maybe still hanging around with the weather. He saw it above Hidden Lake, but below the standard "round stone" crossing for those familiar with the park. Good excuse to get out of the snowed-in house maybe?!?

Yesterday afternoon, I was out with some friends at Magnuson Park, with my two dogs to relieve their caginess, and I peeled-off and did a little side birding while there. Saw the flock of snow geese folks have been seeing around Seattle - around 70, with 20 of them hanging-tight to the playing fields there and only stirring when (unfortunately) some other folks with dogs were playing, and at times they were getting close and further stressing the already stressed birds - busy chowing on soccer field grass and flying circles around the field when people/dogs got too close. Why bring your dog to an area "Crown Jewel" off-leash dog park and then let them off leash in the areas where dogs are not to be off-leash, (or in the case of the fields, no pets period for obvious waste management conflicts with sport use) and it is clearly posted? Makes a bad name for other pet owners...so much for common sense. Sorry, this is a pet peeve of mine..oops no pun intended.


Also had at Magnuson:

Lincoln's sparrow
Song sparrow
A. robin
A. crow
l. scaup
bufflehead
A. wigeon
gadwall
c. merganser
c. goldeneye

...and probably others, but I had to get back to my dog park group and my dogs. They are patient, but probably not best to leave them alone too long with my dogs in the dog area - while I go off looking for birds elsewhere - if I want to continue to have dog park buddies ;)

Have a good one-
Chris Anderson
North Seattle
cdanders AT hotmail DOT com




_________________________________________________________________
Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills.
http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_122008