Tweets - From 6:30 until about 8:00, we were beset by gloomy overcast. We
then had a 20-minute rain squall. After that, it slowly got sunny. It was
breezy at times. It was never exactly warm, and it certainly wasn't
spring-like, but I'd say we were really lucky with the weather. Most of the
time since I got home it's been hailing, sometimes hard. Water levels are
high as well, after all of our recent precipitation, though there wasn't
water over the trail, just mud.

For all of the stormy weather, it was fairly birdy too.

Highlights:

Osprey Two hanging around the nest
Sharp-shinned Hawk I had one at the Rowing Club
MERLIN Streaked through right over our heads
Hairy Woodpecker Saw a couple
Northern Shrike One still in the East Meadow
N. R.-winged Swallow About 2 at the lake
Yellow-rumped Warbler LOTS

The MERLIN gave us a great show, flying in from the west just south of the
weir, and streaking over our heads as it crossed the Dog Meadow. It aimed a
little smack against an American Crow as it went by (no contact, I don't
believe).

The NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were our only new arrivals for the year.
We looked in vain for Cliff and Barn Swallows, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned
Warbler, migrant Lincoln's Sparrows, or Brown-headed Cowbird, all of which
should be here soon.

I spent some time afterwards observing the ANNAs X RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD hybrid
at the Rowing Club. Again, I did not hear it vocalize while perched. When
I played the Anna's Hummingbird track on my iPod, the bird responded
aggressively. During that time, it made the ticking call that Anna's make.

There was also a possibly gynandromorphic Mallard at the Rowing Club. It
had a female-type bill, but it's overall coloring was a washed-out version
of a male Mallard. I'll put some photos on my blog this afternoon.

Salmonberry are blooming fully. Red Elderberry are really beginning to
bloom, as are many species of tree.

For the day, 62 species.

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