Hi, tweets,

I did the Ellensburg count Saturday the 20th joining Phil Mattocks and Steve
Hall in and north of town. We tallied 52 species; the count total was 75
(the record is 78). Not bad. The first year ever with no snow on the ground,
which kept birds somewhat dispersed and made for low raptor counts but maybe
better totals of lingerers. Our best birds were a trusty flock of Gray
Partridge; a very dark, likely suckleyi Merlin; a Short-eared Owl at dusk at
the airport, plus a flock of four American Tree Sparrows there with just
enough light left to see. Two Trumpeter Swans on Maloon lake (I think that's
the local name for the pond just north of the freeway just west of the
Canyon Road exit). Two Bohemian Waxwings with a flock of 60-odd Cedars.

I did the Edmonds count Sunday the 21st covering the shoreline and areas
west of 99/525 from Alderwood Mall north to Harbour Pointe (how elegantte!).
A beautiful, crisp day with glorious views of the Olympics white to the
base. 69 species (I don't know the total for the count) and 12 miles on
foot! mostly walking the railroad tracks north from Meadowvale. Two Hermit
Thrushes, and Orange-crowned and a Townsend's Warbler, a Greater
White-fronted Goose, a Red-breasted Sapsucker.... nothing extraordinary but
it's always fun to find something a bit difficult to come by.

Two down, four to go!

Happy holidays.

PS: heard a rumor there has been a Blue Jay near the corner of 105th and
Roosevelt in n Seattle. It's the same one that made the papers some time
back without details as to the location.

Gene Hunn, Seattle, hunnhome at accessone.com