Tweets - WOW

The morning began frosty (18 degrees according to my car, which seems to
know more things than I do), and completely clear. At around 7:30, I just
sat watching Mt. Rainier, Saturn, and the Moon in the predawn light. It was
cold, but it was dry cold and the sun was shining and (until after noon)
there was no wind. Can't really ask for better winter birding.

A total of ten of us (with quite a bit of coming and going) were out today
birding Marymoor, and it held many surprises, great birds, and good looks:

Horned Grebe 2 on lake late
Gr. Wh.-fronted Goose 1 with CANG/CACG flock. Imm?
Cackling Goose ~20 with CANGS - included Aleutians
American Wigeon Flock of a dozen flying, plus heard more
Greater Scaup Pair on lake late
Hooded Merganser 10 at windmill, more in upper slough
Common Merganser 2 on lake late
RUDDY DUCK 2 on lake - first since 2002
California Quail 6 near dog area portapotties.
Killdeer 4 with CANGs. First since October.
Band-tailed Pigeon Flock flew east early. First ever winter
sighting.
Pileated Woodpecker Great looks at a female east of the mansion.
Northern Shrike East of the East Meadow
Brown Creeper 2 or more west of the mansion.
Townsend's Warbler 6 or more in firs just east of mansion
White-throated Sparrow 1 with GCSP east of Pea Patch
Western Meadowlark 4 in East Meadow

We had the most cooperative LINCOLN'S SPARROW at the south end of the East
Meadow that gave us multiple killer views with the sun at our back for maybe
5 minutes. Just gorgeous.

For the day and the year so far, off to a great start with 61 species.

P.S. I ran down to Phantom Lake in Bellevue in the afternoon and had great
looks at the Tufted Duck (and ABA-area bird for me).

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== http://www.scn.org/fomp/birding.htm
== birdmarymoor at verizon.net