It was windy and cold, but the birding was great. I was joined by Mike West,
Joyce Meyer, and Hugh Jennings. Highlights included:

Northern Harrier Flying over dog area
Sharp-shinned Hawk Harassed by crow over rowing club
American Kestrel Harassed by crow over R/C field, 10:30A
California Gull 2 on grass soccer fields
Common Snipe 1 near weir, one at rowing club
Orange-crowned Warbler Nice yellowy one at Dog Central
Yellow-rumped Warbler Abundant, Aud. and Myrt., MF
Common Yellowthroat Several heard, one seen
Lincoln's Sparrow One - migrant?
Brown-headed Cowbird Two males

This was the first NORTHERN HARRIER since November 9. They used to be winter
residents, but no more.

The female AMERICAN KESTREL was perched on a sign at the Model R/C Airplane
field at around 10:30, took off, hunted for a minute, then was chased by a crow
over to the East Meadow. A few minutes later, I observed her perched at the
south end of the East Meadow. This is the earliest spring sighting I've had of
kestrel at Marymoor - the previous early date being April 8, 1999. This is my
10th spring sighting of kestrel at Marymoor, with the latest spring sighting
being June 8 in both 1990 and 1992.

This is the first April sighting of CALIFORNIA GULL that I have recorded at
Marymoor, leaving May as the only month without a record. Only in October,
however, have they been seen with any regularity.

DOWNY WOODPECKER males were drumming conspicuously all along the slough.
Another was in one of the large cottonwoods on the east border of the park. In
all, we probably saw 5 or 6 males and 1 female.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDs were heard at several locations, and we saw at least 4
males. Some of the males were being territorial, including one who
aggressively told some BUSHTITs to take a hike. He zoomed up to them, and
repeatedly flashed his gorget at them.

SAVANNAH SPARROWS were singing for the first time this spring, and I heard my
first full-voice pugetensis WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW songs of the spring today.

LINCOLN'S SPARROW occurrence patterns appear possibly to show a wintering
population present from September through February. I have no records for
March at all. Then I have a cluster of sightings right at the end of April and
beginning of May (5 sightings between April 22 and May 4), which might
represent a migratory wave. Today's sighting does not fit with either group.
I have one other odd sighting, July 11, 1998.

Total species - 49. Very few ducks, and only about 4 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETs -
they may be headed out.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland WA
== hummer at isomedia.com