Tweets - it started raining hard right at our 7:00 a.m. start time, and it
looked like we'd be in for a wet one for a minute. But then, miraculously,
the rain stopped, and we didn't have more than occassional mist the rest of
the morning. We did get a touch of cold breeze at times, and the clouds
were fairly think, but really the weather wasn't too bad.

There were a few birds about; the ducks gave us great looks, as did the FOX
SPARROWS which were singing, and the LINCOLN'S SPARROWS that were all over
the Compost Piles.

The "Best Bird" wasn't a bird, though. It was a MINK which popped up near
the Rowing Club boat launch while we watched from across the slough. It ran
along a moss-covered log to the river, then jumped in head first. A few
seconds later, it came out and it appeared to have caught something in
there. We think this is the first mink we've ever seen at Marymoor.

Other highlights:

A pair of RING-NECKED DUCKS were in the slough. The wine-colored collar on
the male was very evident, and some people said they saw a ring on the
female too. Do females *have* rings on their necks?

Twice we saw adult BALD EAGLES carrying sticks off somewhere to the
NORTHWEST! This would seem to indicate a new Bald Eagle nest is being
built, since the known one is in the southeast corner of the park.

Near the east end of the boardwalk, we heard and saw a RED-BREASTED
SAPSUCKER drumming. From far to the south we heard a reply, and Megan
managed to espy the bird. We were somewhat distracted from the sapsuckers
by the sound (but never visual) from a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD - first for 2006.

I spotted one SWALLOW, probably a VIOLET-GREEN, but it was *far* too far
away to ID. It seemed to be in pursuit of an accipiter, maybe a SHARPIE?

I saw one "Myrtle's" YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER before 7:00 near the East
Entrance. This was our first for 2006. Carol also got us on a TOWNSEND'S
WARBLER east of the mansion.

For the day, 54 species. Next week it will officially be spring.

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