Tweets,

I woke up before dawn and decided it might be fun to try for a November King County Big Day.

I checked the north end of Lake Washington in Kenmore and Lake Forest Park near my house before calling Brien Meilleur to see if he might want to come along.

I tallied 40 species by 8:30 AM when Brien joined me. We joined the flocks of birders searching in vain for the Cattle Egret and Great Horned Owl at the Montlake Fill, a.k.a., Union Bay Natural Area. Watched a pair of adult Bald Eagles mercilessly pursue a flock of 1000 coots, finally landing on one and drowning it before flying off for breakfast.

We then crossed town to Discovery Park for a sea watch off West Point. Two Ancient Murrelets off West Point were distant but recognizable. We were at ca. 75 species by noon. Hoping for 100.

We then cut through downtown and out to the Duwamish Head to check out the large wintering flock of Surfbirds and Black Turnstones (70+) hoping for a Rock Sandpiper. No luck there but south of the lighthouse at the remnant jetty just north of the big offshore apartment complex we found a roosting flock of Dunlins and Sanderlings with a single female Harlequin Duck. Whoopee. A Rock Sandpiper was foraging on the edge of the flock. Second King County record.

On to Fauntleroy and then the Kent Valley, ending the day with a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl over the Boeing Ponds.

Total of 94 species without trying too hard. A beautiful day to boot.

Gene Hunn
18476 47th Pl NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
enhunn323 at comcast.net