This week at Marymoor, with Michael out of town, Brian Bell and I led the weekly walk. It was overcast all morning but the rain held off for the entire walk. We came with much hope for spring surprises, but in the end it was a pretty uneventful day w/ nothing to make Michael jealous for missing out [our ultimate goal here]:

Highlights:

Peregrine Falcon - one perched in a tree at the south end of the meadow, then seen flying north.
Anna's Hummingbird on nest - she seemed to be building/repairing it [along slough, near west end of boardwalk]
Lots of singing from, among others, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Fox Sparrow and Purple Finch
A couple folks heard what might have been our season-first Rufous Hummingbirds - they remained elusive though others have reported them already at the park this year.

Misses included:
Belted Kingfisher
accipiters, owls
and spring returnees we were hoping for:
no Says Phoebe [seen Saturday at Marymoorp
no Mountain Bluebird [ditto]
Savannah Sparrow

Nevertheless, 56 species for the day - and a good morning walk.

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA