[obol] Canvasback Ducks @ Salish Ponds

[sandyleapt at comcast.net]

Hi OBOLees,

I went for a walk around the east Salish Pond about 12:00 noon today (3/22/08).  Pretty windy, there were some small whitecaps on the pond and a couple gusts that made me stagger.  Anyway, there were three Canvasback Ducks at the east end of the pond, two hens and a drake.  They are in bright breeding plumage.  The male had a lovely red eye and black feet.  I saw that while he was preening.  There were also 50+ American Coots, one Violet-green Swallow, four Canada Geese, 13 Ruddy Ducks, six Mallards and two Ring-necked Ducks.  Only saw a few  tweetie birds, think it was too windy for them, saw two Black-capped Chickadees, a Rock Dove, a Red-wing Blackbird, six American Crows and a lovely gull playing in the wind.

Sandy Leaptrott
NE Portland