I spent a long time looking at some very lovely ducks and other birds at the
port again this afternoon. The swimmers are mostly around the public docks at
the north end of the marina just past the boat launching ramp. They swim inside
and outside the breakwater for some close up viewing. The mix changes from day
to day but there have been ducks there consistently for the past couple of
weeks. And, no crowds.


Today's show featured:

Common Mergansers 3M 4F

Common Golden Eyes 2M 2F

Mallards 1M 1F- Don't often see them in salt water. They are usually around the
lake.


Surf Scooter 1 F (There was a larger flock last week.)

Buffleheads appx. 10 M and F

Barrows Golden Eyes appx. 15 mixed M and F and juvi's

Hooded Mergansers est 25. The main flock flew in on the other side of the bay
and I could only estimate the numbers. There were 3 swimming on my side. 1 M
being escorted by two F's. Lucky duck. The Hoodies began pairing up before
Christmas and now swim in mostly MF pairs within their flocks.

Double Crested Cormorant 1

There was also a freshly killed and feasted on bird on the float that looked
like it might have been a Bufflehead. There are Eagles in the area and
Peregrine Falcons that nest on the port's cargo cranes. If the hapless critter
was caught on shore there is also a large population of Raccoons that could have
done the deed.


Others:

Gulls (sp) est 100 The tide was out and the gulls and crows were working the
time flat heavily
Crows est 50
Great Blue Heron 1 M (in full nuptials)
Kingfisher 1 M
Sparrows 3- They just flitted across the path and I didn't try to ID them.

Western Scrub Jay 2- You don't see them all the time but the port is the most
likely place to see scrub jays in Olympia. These two were in a small tree
beside the payment shed at the boat launching ramp.


If you haven't been to North Point there is a huge parking lot with a wonderful
overlook of Budd Inlet and on a clear day the Olympic Mountains. There are
benches and a picnic table The trail goes down by the marina where there is a
public restroom, water and a soda machine. The two docks on the north end are
public access so feel free to go out and take in the view and whatever birds are
there. The trail continues southward around the edge of the water past the
marina and the boat yard to the end of the mud flats where Purple Martin Boxes
are located on pilings. The port plays host to an estimated 80 species of birds
throughout the year and you never know who might drop in for a guest appearance.
There is another small public marina down by the Hearth Side Restaurant that
is worth a visit as there are often completely different birds over there.


I live downtown and weather permitting, swing by for the show most everyday.

Meanwhile Capitol Lake still has a huge waterfowl population. Seen today were A
Wigeons, Green

Wing Teal, Buffleheads, Hoodies, A. Coots, and 1 Northern Pintail although there
may have also been a female I didn't ID, Mallards, C. Geese, Double Crested
Cormorants, Gulls and the Trumpeter Swan is still there. Probably others, I
just took a quick look between showers.