Hi Tweeters!

My name is Jeremy, and this is my first ever post to the Washington
Tweeters email chat list. I'm lucky enough to work right next to the North
Creek trail system in Bothell and enjoy at least a half hour of birding
every morning.

I usually do a loop of the South Pond, which sits directly adjacent to the
Residence Inn there. I try to start by 7:30 or so and bird until I have to
start work at my job in the nearby office park at 8. I usually get your
standard assortment of dabbling ducks, black-cappeds, juncos, two or three
different kinds of sparrows and frequently Bewick's and marsh wrens.

Recently, though, an osprey has been making use of the pond for fishing.
Thursday morning of last week (July 20), I was approaching one of the
taller, leafless trees on the shore of the pond when I spotted the black
and brown bulk of the osprey.

I stopped dead in my tracks, but the osprey had already marked me. It
called briefly and flew off. I thought I spooked it, but then it began the
circle the pond and hover, eyes locked on the water's surface below. I it
repeated this pattern a few more times, culminating in a dive straight down
from a hover. Water splashed and wings beat as it lifted itself and a
good-sized fish out of the water, heading southwest away from the pond.
What a thrill that was to see!

Though small and unassuming, I've absolutely fallen in love with South Pond
and the variety it can offer. Maybe I'll see some of you there some time!

Keep watching the skies

Jeremy Schwartz
jschwartz1124 at gmail.com