Three of us were on the Monday Morning Hotspots trip. It was a cold, 26 - 31 degrees, but sunny morning which made it feel warmer. We saw a total of 38 species in the 2-1/2 hours we birded the areas from Newport Beach Park in Bellevue to Coulon Park and Cedar R. Park in Renton. The highlight of the trip was a REDHEAD duck seen from the dock at Newport Beach. There were also numerous Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Canvasback, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Gadwall. Two Brown Creepers were seen in the wooded area. At Coulon Park the Greater White-fronted Geese that seem to reside there were present with 15 counted as well as a Bewick's Wren and Belted Kingfisher. There were also a couple of Canada Geese. The only new birds seen at the Cedar R. area were Hooded Merganser and Bewick's Wren. Gulls seen were Mew, Ring-billed, California, Herring and Glaucous-winged.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
hughbirder AT earthlink DOT net