Hi all,

Spent a lovely 3 hours paddling around Union Bay yesterday in the
sunshine. We covered a nice 4-mile loop (map here:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3652819) and ended up seeing thirty
species of birds, as well as some lovely vegetation and lots of Painted
Turtles. Our paddle started at the UW Waterfront Activities Center and
proceeded south towards the arboretum. While waiting for a canoe, I
spotted the usual suspects (Song Sparrows, American Robins,
[American/Northwest] Crows, a pair of Bushtits, and a Bald Eagle).

We pushed off and explored the Arboretum's back waterways, finding
Mallards, Gadwall, Canada Geese, plenty of Great Blue Herons (I spotted 12
during our trip), a Northern Flicker, Red-winged Blackbirds, Marsh Wrens,
and a very nice (and very close!) Pied-billed Grebe. Last year I was
lucky enough to see one near a nest with a chick in it - we didn't come
very close but it was very cute. Also saw Double-crested Cormorants and
some Barn Swallows and Rock Pigeons around the 520 bridge. Another nice
find at the Arboretum was a Cooper's Hawk that flew right across the
channel about 5 feet in front of us!

We then crossed Union Bay towards the eastern end of the Montlake Fill,
coming in near the usual large flock of American Wigeon, Buffleheads, and
some Scaup (I can't tell which at that distance form a rocking canoe!) and
Ring-necked Ducks. Also three Common Mergansers (2 male, 1 female), a
California Gull, and another Bald Eagle (perhaps the same bird). Once we
reached the Fill, we headed west - quite interesting to see all my
favorite stopping points from the water side instead! Lots of Tree
Swallows (90% sure they're Tree and not Violet-green), two very chatty
Belted Kingfishers, and a whole flock of American Coots. A big treat for
me was a pair of Snow Geese sitting on a low sandbank near the southern
end of the Fill! I've never seen Snow Geese down there before. A paddle
down the Canal Road waterway netted us a Yellow-rumped Warbler, another
Song Sparrow, and a European Starling. We finished our trip off with a
pair of Northern Shovelers before putting in and heading home.

What a lovely day - hope you all found some good birds yesterday (as email
seems to indicate)!

Kelsey Byers (Laurelhurst, Seattle, WA)
Department of Biology
------------
kjbyers at uw.edu
(978)460-3581
KB1ONA