Hi Folks:
Yesterday, Wed, Mar 2, an adult BALD EAGLE could be seen on its nest at about 11:30am. From Salt Water State Park in south Des Moines, look south (to the left) from the beach. About 1/2 miles south there is a head-land. Look up the bluff to the 3rd big tree up. It's a fir w/ a flat top. The nest is in the top of that tree. Just uphill from that is a snag w/ two tops. In the surf near the beach w/ Surf Scoters there was one female BLACK SCOTER.
It was a nice, warm sunny morning before the winds really picked up at noon. At Redondo beach, a CALIFORNIA GULL was loafing w/ Mew Gulls and the usual Gl-w Gulls and hybrids on the sandbar at the south end of the boardwalk. A flock of 60 Horned Grebes was on the water out from the fishing dock. Steve Johnson told me that's a sign of spring. In the winter, the Horned Grebes appear alone or in small groups. We were looking for a possible Gray Whale, because one had been seen at Seahurst Park in Burien on Mar 1, but they have not traveled south to Redondo yet. Numerous PIGEON GUILLEMOTS in breeding plumage were on the water. There were two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS seen briefly, and female or young BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were next to the fishing dock.
Yours, Carol Schulz
Des Moines