Tweets - I was expecting the worst, but we actually had a much better day
than last week. Although windy, it often wasn't too windy (the wind often
seemed to be passing above us), and it didn't rain, and it wasn't too cold.
It was, in marked contrast to last week, rather birdy. Eleven of us had a
pretty good time.

Highlights:

Matt and Scott had a pair of COYOTE over by the East Meadow pre-dawn.

A WILSON'S SNIPE didn't flush, but instead gave us great looks for over a
minute at pretty close range, below the weir. I've put a photo on my blog
(follow the link from www.marymoor.org/birding.htm)

We had a very close encounter with a mixed flock of tiny birds -
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, RUBY and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and BUSHTITS -
well south of the East Meadow. The birds were often within just a few feet
of us.

An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was vocalizing along the east edge of the East
Meadow. The bird was very drab, and would have been missed if it hadn't
been making a wide variety of squeaks.

The pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS again shared a branch in a cottonwood east of
the East Meadow.

The Rowing Club featured a BROWN CREEPER and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, as
well as a pair of GREEN-WINGED TEAL trying to be invisible on the far bank
of the main pond.

After the Rowing Club, I went back to the park office to buy my annual
parking pass. In the tree above my car, an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD was calling.

For the day, the Anna's made it an even 50 species. LESSER SCAUP and
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER were new for 2008, bringing our year list to 72
species.

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