Hey tweets, The Fill was in all its glory on this stormy fall day. The
LESSER YELLOWLEGS was back on the main pond, feeding quietly near some
sleeping Mallards and the RUDDY DUCK that has been floating at the
south end for days now. Apparently for no reason, the yellowlegs went
out of its way to peck one of the sleeping Mallards. The Mallard woke
up and tried to peck back, but the yellowlegs was out of range. This
must have really steamed the Mallard's clams because it paddled over to
another sleeping duck and bit it. And they say animals can't feel
emotions as we do. My therapist would have said the duck was exhibiting
displacement, an "unconscious defense mechanism whereby the mind
redirects affects from an object felt to be dangerous or unacceptable
to an object felt to be safe or acceptable." (Wikipedia) At any rate, I
almost displaced my fanny off my camp stool, I was laughing so hard.

Also on display, a NORTHERN HARRIER, *very* unusual for the Fill,
especially in July. I first found it by listening to a bunch of
swallows that were giving their alarm call while circling over the
field just west of the main pond. Turns out the harrier had come to
rest in one of the little potholes that dot this area. The hawk stayed
in the pothole for about 20 minutes - perhaps it had caught a rat and
was eating it. Eventually it hopped out, surveyed the scene, and then
flew off.

Other birds of note: Green Heron hunting in the cattails along the
south border of the Fill; 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS flying in formation
over the bay; Rufous Hummingbird; Yellow Warbler.

Yesterday, by the way, the young Red-tailed Hawk that hangs around the
Fill caught a whacking big rat near the signage at the beginning of
Wahkiakum Trail. The rat was of such immensity that it looked like a
small dog when the hawk lifted off to carry its prey away from prying
eyes. In fact, the hawk couldn't hold on. It had grasped the rat with
just one foot, and that wasn't enough strength. The rat fell from the
sky into the field, where I hope the hawk eventually found it again. -
Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com
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