Tweeters,

Ten of us visited the Duwamish today, starting from T-105 park just south of
the West Seattle bridge, and stopping at Herring's House Park, T-107 Park,
Hamm Creek, and Turning Basin #3. The most outstanding sight we saw was an
interaction among two adult PEREGRINE FALCONS and a juvenile of the same
species. It started at the intersection of Herring's House and T-107 parks
when the juvenile falcon came in and drove a Belted Kingfisher diving into
the water a couple of times. As the kingfisher dove (calling repeatedly) the
second time, an adult falcon came flying in from the south, diving on the
juvenile falcon. The juv falcon rose up, but was immediately harassed by
another adult falcon. Then both adults harassed the juvenile, diving on it
repeatedly, chasing it north and (evidently) out of the adults hunting (?)
territory. After junior left, the adults flew south, and at least one of
them landed on the green structure with all the pipes on top to the south of
Kellogg Island/T-107. (The kingfisher surfaced early and hauled feathers
out of the fracas.) This was quite an airshow!



Other notable sightings included a HORNED GREBE (Herring's House), GREEN
HERON (Hamm Creek), both ANNA'S and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS (T-105), two
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES (T-107 - Black-capped is the usual suspect),
SAVANNAH and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS (Hamm Creek), and several juvenile
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS (T-105/T-107). We saw yet another PEREGRINE FALCON
near Turning Basin #3.



The GREEN HERON was seen a couple of times at Hamm Creek. The most
interesting sighting was when it actually waded and "swam" in the creek
(water was well up on its breast-its legs were kicking) and got up on a log.



Birds missing included shorebirds (NONE - usually have Spotted and Least
Sandpipers this time of year); and Caspian Terns and Purple Martins (we may
have heard a couple of PUMAs, but they weren't heard again). We only saw one
American Robin and very few Song Sparrows.



Birds seen at all locations included Mallards, Great Blue Herons, Ospreys,
Glaucous-winged Gulls, American Crows, Barn Swallows, and European
Starlings.



Mammals seen included two California Sea Lions (one at T-105 swimming toward
the mouth of the Duwamish, and one south of the Turning Basin, which is
about five miles upriver from T-105); harbor seal, and rabbit. Two
red-sliders (turtles) were seen at Hamm Creek.



The 33 species we saw are listed below.



Canada Goose

Mallard

Common Merganser

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron

Osprey

Red-tailed Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon (I)

Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Steller's Jay

American Crow

Barn Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Bewick's Wren

American Robin

European Starling (I)

Cedar Waxwing

Common Yellowthroat

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

House Finch

American Goldfinch





May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com