17 KentLate Thursday afternoon, strolling beside Assistant Chief Peter Needham along the shoreline of Olympia’s Capitol Lake, Kent was surprised to learn that the head of Washington State Patrol’s investigative services bureau was a birder.
His boss pointed at the flocks of blue and white kingfishers nesting at the lake’s edge. Called attention to a redheaded drake canvasback stretching black-and-white wings offshore. Exclaimed in delight over a pair of dark-feathered coots running on the water’s glimmering blue surface. Imitated some hoots, squawks, and chirps.
Dizzied by all the bird lore, Kent reminded himself that his vigorous, muscular boss wanted to be addressed as Pete.
Kent had nothing against waterfowl, but he’d been waiting since Tuesday for feedback on his performance in Delf
