I drove up to the flats to do a little photography and the weather actually
cooperated. There were raptors everywhere. I saw a KESTREL, a juvenile
MERLIN which I got some pretty decent photos of, a COOPERS HAWK, several
RED-TAILED HAWKS, numerous NORTHERN HARRIERS and a few BALD EAGLES. I had
hoped to get pictures of the blue phase snow geese but they were in a field
well isolated from access. There were 50 TRUMPTER SWANS near the little
church by the Conway bridge of which only 7 were juveniles. I also saw 2
AMERICAN BITTERNS and a flock of about 20 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS. You can see
pictures of the merlin and harrier on my website: www.photos.rlkimages.com
<http://www.photos.rlkimages.com/> and click on "last uploads". There are
also recent pictures from the Union Bay Natural Area. I was delighted to get
a good close image of one of the meadowlarks there.



Bob Kothenbeutel

Woodinville

viperDOTbobATverizonDOTnet