Today (Friday, 11/24) I birded Snohomish County starting with 2 Rivers near
Monroe. There was a good bit of hunting going on, and shotguns blasting
away. I didn't stay too long. A juv SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flew over and
perched. Then a juv. COOPER'S HAWK did the same thing. It was a good
opporutnity to view both birds at the same time. The bird I enjoyed most at
this location was a SWAMP SPARROW. It allowed me good looks as it foraged
in low branches. This bird was between the 2 parking areas where there is a
pull off along the road and a drive which is gated.

Then I visited the Snohomish STP where a SWAMP SPARROW has been reported
recently by Bob Norton and Lani Johnson. I pished up a couple of SONG
SPARROWS, but no SWAMP SPARROW.

Next I tried the Everett water front for a SNOWY OWL. Here I dipped as
well.

On to the Edmonds fishing pier. The ANCIENT MURRELET was not a gimme today
but I did have 4 fly by at a distance north to south after an hour's search.
I watched them fly out of sight without landing. I was then joined by
Marvin Cooper and we enjoyed a single ANCIENT MURRELET fly by at a distance,
also north to south. A RHINOCEROUS AUKLET swam almost directly below the
pier. One MARBLED MURRELET flew in and landed at a distance. Marvin and I
drove over to the Edmonds Marsh where a juv. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flew by at
chest level about 15 feet away and perched close by in full view.

It was a good day.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
206-634-1725