Following recent reports of Barn Owls visiting the nesting boxes, I spent the first part of the pre-dawn checking but had only steady rain. The rain then subsided and the rest of the morning, though overcast, was pleasant, but not terribly birdy. But, some of the birds that did make their appearance were not expected. Those and other notables follow.

Lesser Scaup - couple dozen and no Greaters to be seen; all along north shore
Common Merganser - over a dozen, mostly females
Cooper?s Hawk - juvenile, likely male based on size, in a flapless flight across the meadows
Red-tailed Hawk - perched on light pole, early
Herring Gull - 1 on swim platform with usual gull company of 4 other species
Short-eared Owl - hunting the west meadow about dawn, making several passes; very active flight maneuvers, eventually went to ground after prey but could not find it afterwards
Belted Kingfisher - in the masts at the Sail marina
Downy Woodpecker - 5 different sightings, 4 of which were male; considering how spread out they were, could all be different birds
Merlin - flew from a perch atop the cottonwoods over toward the lake shore
HUTTON?S VIREO - along the south fence line; my first sighting at the park; Daniel M. had just joined me and this was a lifer for him; nice to have this bird in the same area as a couple Ruby-crowneds, for size and diagnostics comparisons
Cedar Waxwing - one flock of at least 40 birds flying steadily south; two other smaller flocks feeding with the Robins and Blackbirds in hawthorn trees
Townsend?s Warbler - female in the NE corner of the east meadow
WILSON?S WARBLER - with the Townsend?s and a few Kinglets; a very bright male that I at first assumed was another Ruby-crowned until it turned to show a bright mustard-yellow breast and dark cap

For the day, 56 species.
Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26436624 <http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26436624>
Scott Ramos
Seattle