Hey Tweets-

On a short outing to Carkeek Park today I saw my first-of-season
Common Goldeneye. I've been chceking the park pretty regularly (just
to have a place to see the seasons change) and am sure these are new
since the weekend.

Also, the chum salmon are starting their run here, as of last
weekend. It's pretty neat to see this happening right in the middle
of Seattle.

Finally, two questions - a fisherman I ran into a while back said
he'd seen some kind of chicken-like bird at Carkeek, crossing the
tracks, early in the morning. Like many sportsman he seemed pretty
knowledgeable, and he ruled out pheasant. Are quail, or either ruffed
or blue grouse found in any of the city parks? I know there are quail
at Discovery, but his description fit better with grouse. Any
thoughts would be appreciated.

And where are the loons? I'm seeing big numbers coming in from
reports off the Oregon coast, but I'm new to the sound... do we just
not get very many loons in fall/winter?

Jesse Ellis
Maple Leaf
Seattle
--
Jesse Ellis, Ph. D.
Neurobiology and Behavior
jme29 at cornell.edu
111 Mudd Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, 14853