Tweets - isn't it getting kind of late in the winter for snow? We had a
couple of inches on the ground, and for a while we had heavy snow falling
too. Much of the morning, big snow clouds were threatening, even if snow
wasn't falling. Later, it got sunny, and the trees started shedding their
snow coats all over us. Not windy most of the time, though, and no rain, so
the cold was tolerable. And beautiful. Can't forget to mention that. It
was gorgeous. Not terribly birdy, but not bad either. A small group of us
today - 3 to start, growing to about 6. Nice to have a small, compatible
group.

Highlights:

Cackling Goose Getting late for them, but at least 1 flock overhead
Barn Owl Again visible in its day roost near the windmill
Northern Shrike East Meadow and west of the mansion. 2 birds?
Winter Wren Gave us a GREAT show a the Rowing Club
American Robin Hundreds on the ground everywhere that wasn't
snow-covered
Y.-rumped Warbler Maybe 10 or more at Rowing Club - great looks
Fox Sparrow Good comparison views with Song Sparrow - lots too
W. Meadowlark One singing east of the mansion

Ollie also found us a RIVER OTTER on the lake, our only mammal for the day,
though we did see bunny tracks.

For the day, 51 species. The Meadowlark brings our year total to 80.

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