Subject: [Tweeters] Tufted Duck at Montlake (and Pileated WP)
Date: Feb 7 13:09:18 2012
From: Penny Koyama - plkoyama at comcast.net


Tweets,
Yes, it was there (11:30 a.m.) but was not able to be located from East Point. I walked along the Loop Trail towards Husky Stadium and spotted the duck to the right of a large group, mostly of wigeons. After returning to East Point to notify others, it took some time to relocate the duck, but eventually he was found, actively feeding and well apart from the larger flock. He didn't seem to have any "pals." After a while, he disappeared around a small peninsula of brown grass. Two other birders were heading over to the Boat House to see if a closer view could be obtained from there. The advantage of the view we had is that it was not at all backlit, which is a big problem at East Point. But a scope was required for a good tuft view.

One other sighting at The Fill gave me a good laugh. A Pileated Woodpecker was calling from the tall alders as I entered the Loop Trail. I spotted it as it flew, raised my bins, and was amused to see that it was being chased by a tiny Anna's Hummingbird in very hot pursuit. Since moving from Wallingford to Bothell, I am not at The Fill often, but I never had a pileated there in several years trail tramping.
Penny Koyama
plkoyama at comcast.net