Tweets - a mild. windless morning today. Not so many small birds, but still
a great day of birding. There were, I believe, 15 birders.

Highlights:

The early birders had BARN OWL at two locations, and a NORTHERN HARRIER.

As we gathered at 8:00, huge flocks of (primarily) CACKLING GEESE flew
overhead, all looking for a place to land, then deciding not to stop at
Marymoor. My estimate is 2000 geese, by far the most we've had of that
species ever. There were probably a dozen large flocks, often multiple
flocks overhead at once, plus countless small flocks of ~20. Late in the
morning, Matt found some on the ground in the park, amongst which was a
single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.

Nearing 9:00 a.m., a flock of 10 TRUMPETER SWANS flew overhead, towards Lake
Samm. Minutes later, another flock of 41+ flew past, followed by a flock of
14, for a total of at least 65 SWANS!

Soon after, a raptor was spotted in Snag Row. Distant looks were
inconclusive, so we hurried closer. While we were on the chase, a NORTHERN
SHRIKE landed in Snag Row a dozen trees west of the raptor. The raptor was
finally positively identified as a juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON, and it then
flew strongly to the south.

At the south end of the Dog Meadow, we had a small accipiter which we
puzzled over. Several field marks indicated COOPER'S, but the overall
proportions looked more like Sharpie. Shoopers? Carpie? We decided 85%
confidence on Cooper's and left it at that.

Lots of great looks at PURPLE FINCH today, working the few Oregon Ash trees
that still have seeds (most seeds came down in the big blow a few weeks
back).

We found a very nice male AMERICAN KESTREL that seemed to have an affinity
for the corners of soccer goals - it roamed the whole of the grass soccer
field area, mostly landing only on the corner posts.

The picnic shelter SE of the mansion is surrounded by conifers, and when we
stopped there, they were hopping. A flock of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS caught
our eyes first, but they were quickly followed by a flock of BUSHTITS. Next
up were two BROWN CREEPER. We managed to find one or two CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEES, a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER.

I had to leave early, so I raced over to the Rowing Club ahead of the
others, and I'm afraid I had the better of it. I was greeted by two
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS, then our only flock of PINE SISKIN for the day.
The pond held two WILSON'S SNIPE, a drake RING-NECKED DUCK, and a couple of
female HOODED MERGANSERS. From the Rowing Club dock, I caught sight of the
only AMERICAN COOT and COMMON GOLDENEYE of the day, one each. Fi