Subject: [Tweeters] Montlake Fill UBNA
Date: Jan 10 11:12:10 2008
From: Abby Larson - larson8 at u.washington.edu


Hi all,

I was treated to a great sight this morning: that dark red tailed hawk
finishing up his breakfast--a coot, judging from the few black and gray
feathers left. Once again, I had to question my ID of the red
tail--it's so dark! Solid dark chocolate back, dark diamonds on a
striking white chest, and those narrow dark bands on its tail. But when
I take my binoculars away, it's a plain old dumpy red tailed hawk in the
dark again.

Rainy and noisy this morning, with the red-winged blackbirds singing, a
Bewick's wren singing, and I'm pretty sure I heard a goldfinch sing.
The pale female ruddy duck continues at the big central pond, as does
the northern pintail. A pair of lesser scaup has haunted the creek this
winter, hanging out near the footbridge. The male has just never really
come into classic scaup plumage, though. Mottled, brownish flanks, some
guinea hen speckling. Mixed parentage, genetic recessives, or just a
young fellow?

Happy birding,

Abby Larson
Seattle