Yesterday (2-13-10) I spent a long day in the field, hosting a
BirdingPal visitor to Washington. Eurasian Wigeon, Red-throated
Loon, and any of the alcids were among his target birds. We started
the day at Magnuson Park because of the Eurasian Wigeon that had been
in the flock of American Wigeons in the newly-developed wetlands. We
couldn't find it. At 8 a.m. there was an adult male with a very
large remote-controlled airplane on one of the new ponds. This was
clearly an inappropriate use of the wetlands. Is it a prohibited
use? I don't know and don't have the constitutional wherewithal to
deal with the Seattle Parks Department bureaucracy to find out. The
lack of good judgment in this apparent adult was disappointing. On a
positive note, we did get the Eurasian Wigeon that has been wintering
on the Lynnwood Municipal Golf Course for several winters. We
disturbed neither the golfers nor the wigeon flock to see the bird.

We worked our way up to Deception Pass where we were able to watch
about 50 Red-throated Loons. We did not see the numbers that are
usually present in January but they were good enough to please a
visiting birder for whom this was a life bird. We also lucked out
with a Winter Wren at Bowman Bay so when the Winter/Pacific Wren
split occurs, this eastern birder will have both.

Timing worked to walk across to Port Townsend on the 3 p.m. Keystone
sailing where we were able to get good looks at some but not all
alcids desired. We returned about 4:15 so hung around Crockett Lake
for an hour looking carefully at every Northern Harrier, trying in
vain to turn one into a Short-eared Owl. I mention Crockett Lake
because as we reached Keystone there were no waterfowl on the west
end of the lake and limited numbers elsewhere. I attribute it to the
several kite surfers who were out on the lake. I have never seen
this inappropriate activity on a Whidbey Island habitat of local
importance, of which Crockett Lake is one. Again, these were adults
of questionable judgment or blissful ignorance. I'm not sure which.

As birders who have a sense of responsibility to the natural world,
we ponder and consider our own desires and how they might impact the
habitats we enter to see birds and other wildlife. We develop and
follow codes of ethics. It is painful to see in one birding day two
blatant examples of those who don't care or are ignorant about their
activities in regulated areas. I wish there were easy solutions to
stopping these activities and educating the miscreants. I wish there
were a Santa Claus, too.

Good birding,

Carol Riddell
Edmonds