Hi Tweets,

Thirteen birders enjoyed Eastside Audubon's monthly bird walk at Lake Sammamish State Park on November 9, 2011, from 8 am to noon. The day was cloudy, but dry, with 5 mph winds, and temps ranging from 52-58 degrees F. Nothing out of the ordinary was seen/heard, but we enjoyed birding amidst the fall colors, sorting through birds in at least four mixed flocks, watching a couple of large swarms of PINE SISKIN'S, and looking carefully through a couple of large flocks of CACKLING GEESE (280+) and Canada Geese (80) hoping to spot a Greater White-fronted Goose (no luck). Many more of our wintering ducks & grebes are also back: AMERICAN WIGEON (20), with several sticking close to the AMERICAN COOTS (100+) to be in position to grab the vegetation from the Coots' bills as they surfaced; NORTHERN SHOVELER (2); RING-NECKED DUCK (1); BUFFLEHEAD (10); HOODED MERGANSER (3); HORNED GREBE (2); and WESTERN GREBE (8). The usual gulls were clustered at the edge of the lakeshore at the east beach (mostly Ring-billed, a few California and Glaucous-winged), along with one WESTERN GULL; I saw a THAYER'S GULL and several Mew Gulls earlier in the week. Seven Anna's Hummingbirds were spotted at various locations throughout the park, the most I've ever had there at one time. Five CEDAR WAXWINGS were heard then seen near some very loaded red berry bushes. One YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was heard, and two TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS gave us good views as they were feeding and travelling in one of the mixed flocks. It was another great day birding together at Lake Sam. Our next scheduled walks are Dec 9 and Jan 23, 8 am to noon. No pre-registration, just show up. 46 species for the day, 120 for the year.

Sharon Aagaard
Bellevue, WA
scormieraa001 at hotmail.com