After a wet and windy overnight, the breezes had calmed to 'only' 15 mph but the sky was clear and bright. Lots of water now, in the ponds and the spongy meadows. Jan B joined me for the second half of the morning. Avian clientele were mostly the normal winter contingent, but there were a few notables.
Scaup - finally back in decent numbers-;several dozen, almost all were Greater
Merganser - couple dozen Commons; surprise was a male Red-breasted
Barn Owl - one inside the community center box
Merlin - fast chase of a Robin in the wetlands; could not find the outcome
Hermit Thrush - quietly foraging amid a boisterous Robin flock
American Robin - a few hundred! almost all feeding on hawthorn berries, a 'non-native' the parks department wants to eradicate
https://flic.kr/p/23oXiQR
European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, House Finch and Golden-crowned Sparrow also feeding on hawthorns
Purple Finch - a single brightly colored male, feeding on snowberries and rose hips
For the day, 53 species.
Scott Ramos
Seattle

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