? Making a Holiday visit to family in the area, Joe and Berta McGuire (Tahoma Audubon), Lynn McGuire, Sandy DeNune and myself had a good 1/2 day of birding, however it felt much colder than the 37 degree-high for the day. We started at Marymoor, hitting several different locations, seeing; Northern Shrike (1), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Cackling Geese, Ruby and Golden-Crowned Kinglet's, American Robin's (the most I've seen this year), Red-Winged Blackbird's, Lincoln's Sparrow's (3), Marsh Wren's, Pied-Billed Grebe's, a flock of over 150 finch's, Brown Creeper, Red-Tailed Hawk (1), Spotted Towhee, Blue Heron, Northern Flicker, Hooded Merganser, Ring-Necked Duck and many Ring-Billed Gull's. We ran into Jim Rettig with Eastside Audubon, Jack (apologies I can't recall the last name) with Ranier Audubon, Micheal Hobb's and one other gentleman working hard on the Bird Loop area in the cold, we all appreciate the hard work you do in keeping up the Bird Loop for everyone's use.

?Moving on to the new Juanita Beach Park natural area, we saw; juvenile Bald Eagle (1), Trumpeter Swan's (at least a dozen), both Kinglet species, Downy Woodpecker (1), Green-Winged Teal, American Wigeon, Coot and some unidentified sparrows. As the plantings mature in the natural area, it should provide outstanding habitat (and birding opportunities) in the future. Not too bad for 1/2 day with a late start.

?Darrel DeNune
?Maple Valley, Wa.
?boomerdenune at aol.com