[mou] 9-Mile Creek marsh area, Th/F

[linda]

Thursday, west of the highway bridge, from the MN R. up to the lower 
creek: a pair of harriers, doing much vocalizing and dodging of 
harassing crows--They stayed high over the marsh, moving parallel to the 
bluff-tops. Most of the time only their undersides were visible, but 
they seemed to be shape-shifting, and displayed an impressive range in 
flight pattern. (The show was worth the effort of negotiating the muddy 
causeway over the marsh.)
On the south border of the marsh: several tree sparrows and a few 
red-bellied woodpeckers
On the river: a few common golden-eye in flight upriver

Friday, east of the bridge: a pileated woodpecker, and on the river, 
among the mallards and Canadas, several pairs of common golden-eye and a 
scaup--lesser I think--plus a kingfisher heard across the channel

Chickadees and cardinals were out in force, with occasional appearances 
by nuthatches, juncos, goldfinches, housefinches, and hairy and downy 
woodpeckers. Surprisingly, there was no sign of robins, even though 
they've frequented the area during some winters.

Linda Whyte