I have been remiss in sending out Marymoor Park reports recently. I *am* still
going out, despite a ski injury that has me in a cast. My biggest problem with
sending reports is that I've been busy Thursday afternoons as well, so I've
just not gotten around to reporting.

The highlight from yesterday was a lone GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in a
*small* flock of mixed-race Canadas on the grass soccer fields. This was the
second week in a row for this. Last week, there were just 9 Canadas with the
White-fronted; yesterday, there were 16.

This winter has been amazingly dry, with unseasonably low water levels in the
lake and slough. While water levels are still averaging higher than in summer,
we have had no flood conditions except for a brief time in November. And of
course, there's been a lot of sun. There's been very little fog, too
(yesterday excepted).

Bird diversity recently has been rather low. Duck diversity is WAY below
previous years. Where are all the Shoveler, Scaup, Canvasback, and Ruddy
Ducks? None so far in the year 2000. ZERO. ZIP. And there's been just 1 or
2 (never once 3) Ring-necked Duck. Few Common Merganser too.

Since New Years, despite having great viewing conditions, and despite spending
up to 4 hours in the park each Thursday, and despite averaging over 40 species
per week, the aggregate number of species is a paltry 57. That is, I'm seeing
the same 35 species each week, with only a very few species seen on an
occasional basis.

That said, there are a few species that I've seen in far greater numbers and
with far greater regularity than in past years. This seems to be an
outstanding winter for Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Lincoln's
Sparrow, as well as for Purple Finch. I think I counted over 30 FOX SPARROW
yesterday! And Green-winged Teal have really taken to one of the man-made
ponds at Marymoor West (the Rowing Club). There were about 15 there yesterday.

OH -- and I have been seeing some adult Bald Eagles, though none yesterday.
Two weeks ago, I spied a pair about a mile down on the east side of the
lakeshore. Last week, there was one adult in a tree near the mouth of the
slough. And Wednesday, I saw an adult across the slough from the Redmond City
Hall, about 1 mile north of Marymoor. So it looks like there are some adults
in the general area of the park.

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