Wonderful Sunday,
In late afternoon, strolled perimeter forest trails of Seahurst Park, west
Burien, to the Sound. New land bird arrivals include "sooty" form of the
FOX Sparrow, and spotted our first VARIED Thrush of the season in the
lower forest not far above the water. The woods seemed suddenly full of
WINTER Wrens.

A survey of the salt water off the public beach revealed a single
COMMON Loon. Seen north of the Marine Institute on/near a sand-spit were
at least 250 AMERICAN Wigeon plus a few WHITE-WINGED Scoters just
offshore. There was also a large crowding of mixed gull species (at least
a few Ring-billed as expected along with the Glaucous-Winged and "Puget
Sound' hybrids) but too far away for absolute binoc I.D. I was hoping to
confirm Mew, CA and/or Western gulls and small shuffling movements
suggested peeps may have been on the edges of the mixed group; needed more
than 7xpower to discern. Perhaps, others who survey the east shore-Puget
Sound south of Seattle can confirm any small shorebird sp. or what gulls
are showing up along the shorelines of the various coastal parks.

Further out in the Sound was a small (5-7) group of SURF Scoters. Horned
Grebes and Red-Necked Grebes have already been here for up to two weeks.
The Horned Grebes now number at least 50 (up from about a dozen on the
initial report) that are casually visible from the walkways along the
shore; the Red-necked Grebes still number about 5.

Great day for both woodland species and the beginnings of fabulous
winter salt water birding.

Cheers again,
me2
**********************
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-

"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities." -Pogo-