With the promise of somewhat drier weather than the last couple of days,
3 local birders (Phyllis Moss, Sue Yates, Vicki King) joined the walk
this morning, and we were all rewarded with some nice birds. In fact,
the nice weather ended after only a couple of hours when a dark rain
cloud added yet more moisture to the soaked ground, but we still had
periods of blue sky. Still, the birds didn't seem to mind.

The morning started off nicely when a Short-eared Owl started a
screeching call in the East Meadow about 6:45 am. We had a couple
Wilson's Snipe flying about the West Meadow a little later. Near the
swim platform, dozens of Mew Gull kept swirling about, but a couple
Ring-billed, California and Herring Gulls stopped on the platform for us
to view. The typical collection of ducks were in the area which today
included a Barrow's Goldeneye.

On the playfields we saw the Snow Goose once again hanging out with 4
Greater White-fronted Geese, and a large flock of American Wigeon
contained 2 Eurasian Wigeon males.

Just a single Cedar Waxwing showed up, but we did see several
Yellow-rumped Warblers (all Audubon's) on Promontory Point. A large
flock of Pine Siskin never stopped where we could scan them, but a very
cooperative flock of Red Crossbills landed in the Doug Firs adjacent
where we parked. At the end of the morning a smaller group returned to
the same trees and, with better light and their cooperation by foraging
at eye level, we were afforded great looks and a photo op. Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inzxNQSudqk

For the morning, 57 species.
Scott Ramos
Seattle