Well, it was sunny, cold, absolutely windless calm, and foggy at Marymoor this morning. Many species were not around, and the skies
were empty until the fog lifted at around 9:45, right after Brian Bell had to leave. But there was plenty of singing going on, and
the first birds of spring.

The highlights were:

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW First of spring, 6 appeared at around 9:45 a.m.
Fox Sparrow SAW at least 20. Everywhere! Some singing.
Western Meadowlark Perhaps 3 in the East meadow around 10:00 a.m.

Song Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Red-winged Blackbirds, and especially Bewick's Wrens were singing like crazy. Many of the
Bewick's were high up in trees (up to maybe 30 feet).

We saw not a single gull. Not one. Not even in the distance. This is unusual to say the least for Marymoor.

We heard a Virginia Rail on the west side of the slough, a bit north of the Rowing Club. It was making a noise that sounded like
two bamboo sticks being tapped together in a tock de-tock tock tock pattern. Is this the song? It also responded to my clapping
from the Rowing Club with its usual decending guffaw, which I assume is a call?

BTW, the Rowing Club is now open offically as Marymoor West. There is a small parking lot off West Lake Sammamish Parkway, just
north of the Y with Bel-Red Road. The official hours are something like 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., though don't be surprised if the
gate is sometimes locked during those hours. Once inside, you are supposed to stay on the road to the boathouse (they will be
developing other trails in coming years). The road passes three small ponds which are quite good for the shyer ducks like
Green-winged Teal, Shoveler, and Hooded Merganser. This area should be good for birds if they aren't driven off by too many people.

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