I was at the Arboretum today with Ed Siegel and we found both male and
female Cinnamon teal pair at Arboretum (in amongst the many other
ducks). I presume the that Mark Girling saw earlier in the week.

We also saw two Northern Pintail at the Arboretum which initially I
took to be male and female. In a scope one bird was was missing his
"pintail" with a small "V" showing between the other tail feathers. He
had the usual breeding plumage fieldmarks so he was a male. The other
which I initially took to be a "dull bird probably a female" actually
had a pin-tail when shown dabbling (not just a sharp point) so I
presume now that was partially breeding plumage and partially eclipse
male.

Any ideas on the lack of the pintail? Slow to grow? Or just loss of
the tail feathers?

On the Fill we also saw a Pileated Woodpeaker overflight when standing
by the Central Pond admiring the birds Evan reported earlier in the
day. A very brief not very satisfying view of a large dark bird with
white flashes on the wing with woodpeckersish flight and bird calling
like a Pileated Woodpeaker. It disappeared twice behind a couple of
trees/bushs but I think it landed on the Fill (went behind one tree
and didn't appear). A Fill first for me.

I also noticed ten American Crows out on the "barrier island" where
the Cormorants sit. At least one of them was walking around with a
dark shellfish (a Muscle?) in its beak at one point. I guess they're
feeding out there. Not seen Crows feeding there before but I guess the
water is low enough to give them access.

Lots of waterfowl species seen at both locations including single
elusive Western Grebes, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Hooded
Merganser, Buffleheads, Northern Shoveler, Pied-billed Grebe and not
that many Mallards.

And American Coots being tag-team hunted by the two local Bald Eagles
just off the Fill. This is the second time I've seen this method of
hunting this season from those birds: first harassing them into a
circle by orbiting them then two birds swooping alternately or
together to try to take a bird.

Fall is certainly here.

On Nov 2, 2009, at 4:46 PM, mark girling wrote:

> Nice diversity at the the arboretum by the broadmoor entrance.
> Amongst a flock of green winged teal is one cinnamon teal.Northern
> shoveler, hooded merganser.buffleheads,
> mallards,gadwall and pied billed grebe.

--
Kevin Purcell
Seattle, WA
kevinpurcell at pobox.com
twitter: at kevinpurcell