GLORIOUS!

Finally, a nice day birding, and I made the most of it, spending around 3 1/2 hours at Marymoor, and walking the nature trail (my
normal route), the mansion area (very productive), the snipe area west of the velodrome, the barn owl roost trees, and the rowing
club (on the west side of the slough). All told, 46 species. But it wasn't so much the quantity of species, nor even the
unusualness of any of them. The birds were out, singing, numerous, unafraid, and gorgeous in the sunshine.

I think, after these weeks of bad weather, that the birds were primarily interested in eating and singing. I was able to get close
to birds that normally flush immediately. This was especially true of the little birds. I've never been within 6 ft. of a dozen
Golden-crowned Sparrows before!

I tried to sneak in on the Barn Owl, and unfortunately flushed the bird. It flew to a nearby tree, with about 10 crows immediately
after it. It flew on to another tree, and had to evade a couple of nasty jabs by a Red-tailed Hawk. I got to watch it catch it's
breath in that tree before it made a successful dash back home. Great views, but I don't know that I'll try sneaking in there
again...

Even the bad was magical - a dog person brought his unleashed dog up the nature trail, came upon the deep water across the trail,
and told his dog they'd have to turn around. The dog barked loudly -- and a Virginia Rail answered.

The highlights were:
Common Loon 1 at the mouth of the slough, near the lake platform. Basic plumage.
Hairy Woodpecker F at east footbridge, M near windmill
Northern Flicker Two pair on the SAME BRANCH near the windmill, lots of others.
Yellow-rumped Warbler Several near the tennis courts
Townsend's Warbler F near the mansion

Dozens of Bewick's Wren were singing and chattering. Song sparrows right on or next to the trail - maybe one every 20 yards. Some
sang. Chickadee songs galore. Red-winged Blackbirds spaced out on their territories, all males, all singing. Ruby-crowned
Kinglets everywhere. Marsh Wrens abundant along west end of boardwalk. Four GBH on the grass soccer fields, another perched asleep
on the far side of the slough looking very elegant. A Wonderful Morning!

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland WA
== MJCT_Hobbs at msn.com