Hello All,
Finally, I had some time to conduct and compile some bird surveys after
moving from the Des Moines, WA, Marina area to the east boundary of
Seahurst Park in west Burien, WA (December 30, 1998.)

02-14-99, mid-afternoon at the Marina and from the fishing pier---
highlights include: Up to 125 BARROW'S goldeneyes, a few COMMON
goldeneyes, 5-7 DOUBLE-CRESTED cormorants, up to 250 scoters with about
70% SURF and 30% WHITE-WINGED, 2 RED-NECKED grebes, up to 75 HORNED
grebes, 2 COMMON loons, about 25 AMERICAN coots, a plethora of semi-feral
MALLARDS, 2 KILLDEER, 1 PIGEON guillemot, 1 RHINOCEROUS auklet, a
scattering of MEW gulls, a few WESTERN gulls and many GLAUCOUS-WINGED +
diverse "Puget Sound" variant gulls; 1 GREAT BLUE heron perched high in
a conifer east of the Senior Ctr buildings; no Pied-billed grebes or
American wigeon were seen. One BELTED kingfisher flew by, sex
undetermined. It was interesting to find an adult male White-winged
scoter in the water far inside the Marina near Anthony's Restaurant. And
Horned grebes were found in amongst all the boat slips with the flotillas
of Barrow's goldeneyes.

Seahurst Park east boundary forest since December 30, 1998, plus hike to
the beach/Sound area today for the first time: Winter-resident forest
birds within view of my 4th story windows include up to 150 PINE siskins,
several dozen DARK-EYED juncoes, 9-12 each of BLACK-CAPPED and
CHESTNUT-BACKED chickadees, a scattering of GOLDEN-CROWNED kinglets,
uncountable numbers of COMMON bushtits, 1 male-1 female & 1 immature
VARIED thrushes, at least 1 SHARPSHINNED HAWK, 1 male and 1 female or
immature ANNA'S hummers, 1 male and 1 female SPOTTED towhees, more (still
counting) than 1 pair of SONG sparrows, 2 NORTHERN flickers, up to 3
STELLER'S jays, 1 adult BALD eagle, a scattering of ROBINS, unknown number
of BAND-TAILED pigeons (a single bird seen twice in last two days), and,
of course, many CROWS. Starlings and House sparrows are quite UNcommon!

Seen specifically today at Seahurst Beach: 1 WINTER wren, all 3 species
of scoters in numbers of 3 (BLACK) up to 10 (SURF & WHITE-WINGED), 4-7
BUFFLEHEADs, up to 15 HORNED grebes, and a scattering of MEW gulls plus
the usual GLAUCOUS-WINGED gull mix found at all beaches where people have
picnics. The overall numbers of wintering waterfowl are considerably less
in the Sound off of Seahurst than the areas near the Des Moines Marina, at
least as observed mid-afternoon, Feb 15, 1999.

This is a very nice area to live with wonderful forest trails to the
Sound and great birding even from my windows!

Cheers and more reports as I see 'em,
Maureen
********************************
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu U of WA & Burien-Seahurst Park,WA

"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of
confusion and bamboozle requires vigilance, dedication, and courage."
-Carl Sagan-

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