Subject: [Tweeters] Late Ediz Hook Yellow-billed Loon,
Date: Dec 19 09:24:40 2009
From: Wheelan Drew - amazilia55 at yahoo.com
Hey All,
On Thursday I was in Port Angeles and had great looks at a Yellow-billed Loon, as it preened next to a Common Loon, and both ceased foraging for about five minutes. The bird was about 400 meters west from the entrance to the coast guard station at the tip. It was only about 150-200 meters from the shore. I had to climb up onto the rocks to get a look at it.
Also there were 70 or more Black-bellied Plovers roosting on the log booms with hundreds of other sandpipers. I didn't have my scope with me, and they were a little far off, but in the group were two Pluvialis that showed light colored wingpits. Also on the log boom was a pink legged, dark-mantled gull which was screaming for closer scrutiny than my bins were able to provide and it never opened its wings. I only saw distant Murres, Rhinos and Murrelets in flight for alcids, not including the many Pigeon Guillemots on both sides of the hook.
On Tuesday, in a field across from the Forest Service office in Enumclaw I watched as a Peregrine hassled an adult Bald Eagle in the air above a wheeling flock of several hundred ducks, (mostly Wigeon). The Peregrine made several stoops, which the Eagle was left without the ability to outrun or maneuver. The Eagle would flip over at the last minute to show its talons in hopes that the falcon wouldn't be able to land a good blow. On the last foray the Peregrine gained about 150 feet in elevation on the Eagle, stooped and sent the eagle to the mud! The Peregrine then loftily flew to a nearby Cottonwood, quite satisfied I'm sure. I think the eagle commenced to eat cow flops in the pasture, but I couldn't confirm that,
Good Birding, and happy holidays
Drew Wheelan
Wilkeson, WA
check out my blog at
www.drewtube.net
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