Howdy Scott Downes and All,
I have also seen several male Ruby-crowned Kinglets chasing amongst
themselves, displaying full and 'flaming' crowns, and making lotsa noise
since about mid-February (18th-19th)!!!in the Seahurst Park-west Burien
area. The male Juncoes (Oregon morph/Dark-eyed) are also becoming
feisty....seems a tad early.

Pine Siskins arrived for the first time this season in only the past two
weeks, a small flock of about 25 compared to last season's 150+ flock that
arrived in late fall and stayed through March of '99. Some of the
Siskins seemed to be doing courtship behavior and chasing about. The
wintering male Varied Thrushes are still in winter-flock mentality able to
sit on the same tree branch with little antagonism; however, Robins
and Downy Woodpeckers appear to be pairing up. And on Thursday morning,
Feb 23, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks were doing graceful aerials together
over the north half of the Seahurst Park forest (they nest here).

Also on Feb 23, I took a stroll at the Des Moines Marina and saw a
Rhinocerous Auklet in full alternative plumage with plumes plus 3 Pigeon
Guillemots in their alternative featherings. Red-necked Grebes were seen
with clearly developing 'red necks.' The Horned Grebes were still in
winter dress, but the Pied-billed Grebe is looking pied, indeed. Over the
past few days, Harlequin Ducks have been seen from the Des Moines fishing
pier. And, 2 or 3 GBH nests are being tended for the first time in
several years near the Senior Center at Des Moines Beach Park. The Bald
Eagles find these an easy food source for their own nestlings later on.

Eh? and Cheers,
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-

On Sat, 26 Feb 2000 Sgd24 at aol.com wrote:

> Tweets,
> I was out at Discovery Park this afternoon and at several places on the Wolf
> Tree nature trail I had singing and displaying Ruby-crowned Kinglets. I went
> and looked at my notes I have do not have anything written down (nor do I
> remember) for singing Ruby-crowns anytime earlier than March. Typically I
> don't here this species until mid-late march. Has anybody else heard Ruby's
> yet this year?
>
> Scott Downes
> sgd24 at aol.com
> Seattle WA
>
> To identify a species should not be enough to quench one's thirst,
> a proper thirst must seek to understand every facet of the bird's
> existence.
>