Tweets - Early rain and rain after, but except for the first half hour, we
were blessed with another good day for birding at Marymoor. For a few
minutes around 11:00, it was actually sunny, though most of the morning was
rather dark, though warm. It certainly feels spring-like, though of course
we still only have "winter" birds.

7:30 a.m. start time, Thursday morning, in the rain, during the February
doldrums... 22 birders.

Highlights:

Cackling Goose Good sized flock - usually scarce by February
Common Goldneye - around 30 at lake (high count)
Green Heron Continues unseasonable reliability at RC
Cooper's Hawk Adult, motionless with very full crop, at Compost Piles
PEREGRINE FALCON in snags east of boardwalk
Rock Pigeon Pair copulating on NE corner light pole
BARN OWL Pair at windmill early, adult in nestbox later
Anna's Hummingbird - at least 5 males seen. Females on nest?
Hairy Woodpecker Good looks south of East Meadow
Northern Shrike Sub-adult west of grass soccer fields
Varied Thrush Heard near weir
Purple Finch ~15 along east edge of East Meadow
House Sparrow Across the street from the Rowing Club

We also had a BEAVER just above the weir.

Matt & Scott had a pair of BARN OWLS at the windmill between 5:30 and 6:00
a.m. They were clucking and clicking, there was quite a bit of pair-type
interaction, and possible copulation. Later, we found an adult inside the
nest box, between the mansion and the stage. The evidence of squirrel nest
(twigs and leaves) had been cleared out of the box, presumably by the owl.

For the day, 58 species. For the year, adding Peregrine, Varied Thrush, and
House Sparrow. we're now at 75 species.