After a few warm, wet days, it was chilly this morning (low 30s) with
frost in places, but lots of standing water, everywhere. Still, signs of
Spring are around: Indian Plum is unfurling and the salmon berries are
about to burst. Helpers today included Brien, Phyllis and Joe.

Before dawn, a Short-eared Owl was seen hopping from one perch to
another in low shrubs, not far from Frog Pond.

Most interesting collection of gulls at the swim platform this morning,
with 6, maybe 7, species at once: 3 California, 1 Mew, 3 Ring-billed, 1
Glaucous-winged, 1 Herring, 1 Western and a possible 1Y Thayer's. Many
more Mews were out in the ball fields.

Duck numbers were pretty low, with only about 50 scaup, 3:2
Lesser:Greater ratio, though a large flock of Common Goldeneye was
scattered about; a male Eurasian Wigeon was mixed in with the American
Wigeons on the lawn. Many Western, 1 Horned, and a handful of
Pied-billed Grebes. The Snow Goose and 5 Greater White-fronted Geese
continue.

A good number of Yellow-rumped Warblers appeared to all be Audubon's. We
finally caught up with a flock of at least 30 Pine Siskins in one alder
tree and in the adjacent willow was a similar sized flock of American
Goldfinch.

For the day, 53 species; for the year, up to 70.
Scott Ramos
Seattle