Tweets - it was dark and foggy and quiet today, though at least it didn't
rain. Construction in the South Lot meant we had to park in the little
pocket lot just to the northeast of our usual place. From there one can
usually see the gulls on the grass fields, but it's hard to see gray gulls
in a thick fog at dawn.

Eight of us ventured out. Here's some of what we saw:

Green-winged Teal 5 at the Rowing Club - new for 2005
Cooper's Hawk Adult with a worn tail in Snag Row
California Gull New for 2005
Barn Owl Matt and Ollie saw one near the windmill early
Anna's Hummingbird M&O early, at feeder at park office
Northern Shrike Again in the wetland south of the velodrome lot
Wh.-throated Sparrow With GCSP as usual, where usual, despite construction

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT were roosting in cottonwoods with GREAT BLUE HERON
(about 7 of each) just south of the dog area along the slough. None of us
could remember them roosting there. Their favorite roost tree used to be a
cottonwood north of Leary Way in Redmond (north of SR-520 from Marymoor). I
wonder if this is the start of a new behavior.

Ollie Oliver described what he felt was (at least mostly) a WESTERN GULL
yesterday. Today, I saw a similar bird, and I'm inclined to add a majority
WEGU to the year list.

We broke our necks finding CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLET, and BROWN CREEPER east of the mansion in the tall Doug Firs.

There was a RIVER OTTER next to the lake platform when we arrived there. It
quickly disappeared, but we all (I think) got at least 1 good look.

For the day, just 46 species. But Ollie Oliver had many of our obvious
misses earlier this week (Gadwall, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Steller's
Jay, Lincoln's Sparrow), for a week count currently at 53.

Our year count is up to 73 species. Next week we'll start at 7:30 (days are
getting longer)

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