The East Lake WA (ELWAS) CBC was conducted on Dec. 16. Our circle is centered just north of Beaver Lake on the Sammamish plateau. We have usually have seven teams covering the seven areas in the circle. Due to the storm causing downed trees over most areas, we did not do the Pine Lake area and a number of parks were closed in other areas. We still have one area that hasn't reported due to power outage. Considering the conditions we did better than expected. As of now, we have 84 species reported which is the average over the past 13 years. The total bird count of 10530, so far, is the 2nd lowest over 13 years and compares to the average of 13246. We had a high count for the following species:
Trumpeter Swan - 166 (163 of these were along NE 60th St. north of Carnation), previous high 29 in 2001.
Tundra Swan - 3, was only the second year reported. One had a neck band T439 which I reported to the
Swan Lady, Martha Jordan.
American Black Duck - first for this CBC
Peregrine Falcon - 2, 1 has been reported in 4 years
Virginia Rail - 8
California Gull - 73
Mourning Dove - 56
Short-eared Owl - first for this CBC
Pileated Woodpecker - 6
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1, only reported one other year, 2002
Fox Sparrow - 41
Lincoln's Sparrow - 12
White- throated Sparrow - 2, ties with 2 in 2002
Western Meadowlark - 50, previous high 34 in 2002

Low counts were recorded for the following:
Pied-billed Grebe - 22
Northern Shoveler - 4
Hooded Merganser - 32
Common Merganser - 12
Mew Gull - 23
Belted Kingfisher - 2, ties the low of 2 in 1998
Black-capped Chickadee - 90
Chestnut-backed Chickadee - 17, ties low of 1997
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Varied Thrush - 8, ties low of 2005

I can send the complete list in an Excel format to any one that is interested.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
hughbirder at earthlink.net