Tweets ? The unreasonably warm weather continues, even with rain threatening throughout the morning. We were warm(ish) and dry until about 10:30, when very light drizzle began. And it was birdy!

Highlights:

Cackling Goose One small flock; they get less common after January
Wood Duck Male in slough almost out at Lake Platform
Horned Grebe A couple well out from Lake Platform
N. Saw-whet Owl Matt again heard 2, about 5:20 a.m.
R.-breasted Sapsucker 2 sightings, but probably the same bird
Merlin Far to the east atop a cottonwood
TREE SWALLOW 8+ over Dog Meadow ? FOY
Varied Thrush Heard singing on far side of slough ? FOY
Yellow-rumped Warbler Increasing numbers, both Myrtle?s and Audubon?s
RED CROSSBILL In firs around mansion all morning

I saw eBird reports of TREE SWALLOWS at Marymoor on Monday, February 16th. That date ties the earliest sighting ever for Marymoor (1996). Even today?s sighting is the 4th earliest.

There were over 40 GREAT BLUE HERONS sitting in the heronry, with more in other places: probably 50 for the park today! I expect there will be more nests built this year. Many of the birds were bringing in twigs, though that is mostly (completely?) upkeep on existing nests at this point.

PURPLE FINCHES were singing (first of the season). BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were seen fluttering wings, though it may be a few days before they get past the flirting.

For the day, an astounding (for February) 63 species. That?s our 2nd-highest species count ever for a February walk, beaten only by 2014-02-27 when we had 65. I believe we?re at 81 species for the year.

== Michael Hobbs
== www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
== BirdMarymoor at frontier.com