Hi Tweets:
Yesterday afternoon, Fri, Apr 3, it was partly sunny. I was at a Tukwila Park that
is west of Southcenter Mall called Crystal Springs Park. Lots of big conifers and
deciduous trees there. I was walking slowly on one of the upper level paths in
stealth mode (moving slowly, dressed in dark clothes). A very-large, female,
BROWN-colored PILEATED WOODPECKER flew in calling an odd call, and flew up to the top
of a snag which is in a grove of similar trees. It clung to the top one foot of the
snag and gently pecked all around it. It called the usual cuh, cuh, cuh, cuh call
which goes up in pitch and then down. The only black color on its back was a small
collar up near the neck. The tail feathers appeared darker. The brown color of the
back was almost a rust brown.
Nat. Geo. says this brown color is the color of juvenile plumage held briefly. This
bird did not act like a young bird. She flew in and right up to the top of the snag,
and eventually flew off in a very accomplished manner. I don't remember ever seeing
a brown one like this.
Today, Sat. morning was absolutely gorgeous. Cool, 37 degrees, but sunny. All the
birds are singing.
A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW sat up in a tree at the parking lot at Wesley Terrace singing
see me, pretty pretty me.
Down on Des Moines Creek trail the woods had RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS singing
everywhere. Viewing from the beach at Des Moines, there were quite a number of
HORNED GREBES in many plumages, including beautiful breeding colors. There were
about a dozen BONEPARTE'S GULLS, and about 25 MEW GULLS, along with the usual
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. Several PIGEON GUILLEMOTS in breeding plumage were near the
fishing dock. There were a few SURF SCOTERS, and 2 WHT-WINGED SCOTERS. Both COMMON
GOLDENEYES and BARROWS GOLDENEYES were present in small numbers. Ducks at the mouth
of Des Moines Creek were Wigeon, Mallards, and a GADWALL.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines, WA
linusq at att.net