Although the day started off rather cloudy, it was mild and eventually we were blessed with some warming sun. Sharon Aagard and I had a nice assortment of birds this morning, starting well after dawn.

The swim platform was chock full of gulls, mostly Mew, but we worked through the throng to find a couple of Ring-billed, California and Herring Gulls. Glaucous-winged Gulls chose to alight on the nearby pilings instead. Still present were a good mix of Greater and Lesser Scaup, plus a couple of Ring-necked Ducks on the lake. The American Wigeon flock stays close to a hundred birds with a male Eurasian Wigeon among them. A large number of Western Grebes (>40) were spread out on the lake; only two Pied-billed Grebe were nearby.

Only a small number of Canada Geese, mostly in pairs now, with the solitary Snow Goose still hanging out, this time off the tip of NOAA. One of the geese was carrying a large belly:http://tinyurl.com/avmzjq9; eggs?

Raptors included Bald Eagle, periodically spooking the ducks, an immature Cooper's Hawk, 2 Red-tailed Hawks and Merlin flying over the park toward the NW. By coloration, it looked similar to the one sighted last Saturday at the monthly count.

Many Yellow-rumped Warblers (1 Myrtle, the rest Audubon's) were seen at several locations, and many Ruby-crowned Kinglets also spread around, most of them singing. There were several small flocks of Bushtit, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch. Unusual for the park was a pair of House Sparrows. A Belted Kingfisher was calling near NOAA. The real novelty for the day were two Tree Sparrows, checking out the gourds at the south end of the park.

For the day 58 species (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13405869); with the last 3 species mentioned, up to 80 species for the year.
Scott Ramos
Seattle