Tweets - I had a fabulous day at Discovery Park & West Point today. Absolutely
gorgeous day, albeit rather windy. But the sun was shining which warmed up an
otherwise cold day. Although my species count wasn't very high, I found some
great birds:

Just east of the South Parking Lot, I had two or three HUTTON'S VIREO side by
side with RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET for a great comparison.

In the main meadow west of the South Parking Lot there was an immature NORTHERN
SHRIKE.

In the deciduous scrub north of that meadow, while searching for the Long-eared
Owl, I found a male ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD who posed nicely in the sunshine for me.

I had gone to the park knowing only that Al Mangold had been starting at the
South Parking Lot in his visits to the LONG-EARED OWL. I looked in several
areas, but I had pretty much convinced myself that it must be in that scrub
north of the shrike meadow and south of the army housing. I had just about
given up, when I saw a ranger with a scope, and she directed me less than 100
yards to the spot for the owl, a very fine bird. It was in a most beautifully
golden-leaved Gaier's Willow.

I then headed down to the water at West Point, where there were GREATER SCAUP,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, and COMMON GOLDENEYE among other species. Northeast of
the lighthouse were EUROPEAN STARLINGS feeding *with* and in the same manner as
SANDERLING and a single RHINOCEROS AUKLET. Further along, among a flock of
about 30 AMERICAN WIGEON was one drake EURASIAN WIGEON. Off from the north end
of sewer plant were four SURF SCOTER, about 10 RED-NECKED GREBE, and a single
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE.

I'm glad I didn't stay home working at my computer!

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