Tweets -; I wish the local weather reports would tell you when it was going to be nice, rather than when it's going to rain, for the short-form weather called for "rain Thursday", but we had a very pleasant morning at the park, even with brief blue skies and sunshine. Temps in the low 40's, and no wind. Some birds, and some pretty good birds.

Highlights:
a.. Greater White-fronted Goose -; One each in 3 different flocks of Cackling/Canadas
b.. Common Merganser -; flyby of two; one seen in a late scan of the lake
c.. Horned Grebe -; three, in a late scan of the lake
d.. Virginia Rail -; at least 2, spontaneously vocalizing social calls
e.. Sharp-shinned Hawk -; flyby just after 7:00 a.m.
f.. Barn Owl -; one heard very early, doing multiple calls
g.. - Five woodpecker day
a.. Red-breasted Sapsucker -; one next to mansion, only our 2nd since early September
b.. Downy Woodpecker -; only a couple
c.. Hairy Woodpecker -; one near Dog Central
d.. Northern Flicker -; one showing yellow shafts, East Meadow
e.. Pileated Woodpecker -; one female giving nice looks south of Dog Central
h.. Merlin -; one flew down the slough
i.. Varied Thrush -; two across from the Rowing Club dock
j.. Cedar Waxwing -; large flock of 30-40
k.. Pine Siskin -; 1-2 bazillion, ubiquitous
l.. LESSER GOLDFINCH -; one at the north end of the Dog Meadow. Seen well briefly before flying south; was not refound
m.. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW -; one from Viewing Mound gave us great looks. Found while searching for the LEGO
n.. Savannah Sparrow -; two on the trail between East Meadow and Dog Meadow
This was just our 2nd-ever LESSER GOLDFINCH (first was in August 2014).

This was the 2nd AMERICAN TREE SPARROW sighting for 2020; Tracy and I had one in the Pea Patch on April 9th. But before that, we hadn't had one since 2012. Today's bird was very bright and photogenic, as well as being quite cooperative, giving everyone good looks.

Matt and Alan saw AMERICAN BEAVER predawn. We had at least 3 RIVER OTTERS from the Lake Platform.

Misses today included Ring-necked Duck, Western Grebe, Rock Pigeon, Northern Shrike, Bushtit (after not having been able to get away from them last week), and American Goldfinch.

For the day, 59 species plus "black wing-tipped gulls".

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