A chilly, foggy morning turned into a pleasant, mostly sunny mid-day. Five of us on the walk today and we were as enthused about the change in weather as the birds which seemed to emerge with the warmth of the sun. A try for owls before dawn was not very successful although the Snipe were about in good numbers. But, there were other fine birds to enjoy.

Red-breasted Merganser - a solitary female came close enough to shore near the south boundary for us to appreciate diagnostic features; these birds are uncommon but regular winter visitors on the lake
Cooper?s Hawk - a couple; one perched long enough for us evaluate as an adult female
Virginia Rail - a couple of enthusiastic calls, at dawn
Wilson?s Snipe - we counted at least 9, emerging from the now flooded west meadow, before dawn
Band-tailed Pigeon - a group of 7 flew in to Promontory Point
Barn Owl - I heard one screeching before the rest of the group joined up
Red-breasted Sapsucker - one mewing on Kite Hill
Northern Flicker - several Red-shafted, one Yellow-shafted (yellow under-wings and tail, brown/tan face), one intergrade (red malars and nape)
Hermit Thrush - a silent bird giving inadequate looks, by the Education Pavilion
Orange-crowned Warbler - 3, one with a deformed bill (see checklist)
Western Tanager - Sharon got us on a winter-plumage male, feeding on Madrona berries, Kingfisher Basin
https://youtu.be/HsARwLzUvbM <https://youtu.be/HsARwLzUvbM>

For the day, 65 species.
Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32370497 <http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32370497>
Scott Ramos
Seattle