Tweeters,
After checking the yard this morning (1st bird a FOX SPARROW), I headed to Ft Lewis in hopes of scoring a bluebird; none that I saw in the usual places. Of the 39 species I tallied at Ft Lewis, several stood out:

EURASIAN WIGEON at the north end of Chambers Lake. The lake had a host of other waterfowl, including American Wigeon, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, and Double-crested Cormorant. I did find four WOOD DUCKS at a different location.

I had a superb view of Mt Rainier and was scoping several WESTERN MEADOWLARKS from observation post 8 when a MERLIN flew past. Later, at OP 10, I sighted an AMERICAN KESTREL

The area around Muck Creek bridge produced both of the usual jays, but I also saw a PILEATED WOODPECKER, which had obviously been working the trees on both sides of the road to the south of the bridge.

Back home at Avian Acres, I found the wintering WHITE-THROATED SPARROW among the rest of the feeding sparrows: GOLDEN-CROWNED, WHITE-CROWNED, LINCOLN'S, FOX, and SONG.

It was a gorgeous day and a nice start for the year!

May all your birds be identified,
Denis DeSilvis

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