Birded along the Montlake Cut today, and then went over to Marsh and Foster islands before it just got too yucky to play anymore.

Started out at the viewpoint right next to the Aqua Verde Cafe that others pointed me to. Immediately got Common & Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneye and the other more usual suspects. Finally on a scan across the way, I spotted the raft of Redheads (always nice to pick up a lifer). Good numbers of them, and they made the 10th duck species spotted from that look out in about 15 minutes (over the course of the walk, I got 14 species, missing the very common Green-wing Teal and Ruddy Duck that I usually see across the Bay at the Fill).

As I walked along the trail and under the bridge along the Montlake Cut, I picked up my first Anna's Hummingbird of 2005, as well as the first Winter Wren. All told, had 27 species before moving across the water and to the islands. Figured I hadn't been to this side of the Cut yet in '05, might as well see if there was any good stuff I was missing. I wasn't disappointed.

The first bird I saw walking along the 'Arboretum Water Trail' was a Lincoln's Sparrow. Also got a trio of Fox Sparrows soon thereafter. Picked up the Red-breasted Merganser to make all 3 mergs, got Bewick's and Marsh Wren to have 3 wrens, Brown Creeper, Canvasback and finally Wood Duck to make 40 species today.

All in all, not a bad, drizzly morning in Seattle. Now it's time for some pizza and some football!

Brett A. Wolfe
Seattle, WA


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