The skies couldn't decide what to do today, so we had
overcast and sun, clearing and drizzle, in alternation. It was a touch
breezy at times, though other times not bad at all. And the temps were
mild; 45 degrees at the coldest.
We're slowly losing winter birds - we had only Canada geese today, and
only 1.5 species of gull (I.e. Glaucous-winged, plus one back-tipped
gull not identified to species). But there are signs of spring.
Highlights:
Mallard An unusually large flock of over 60
Ring-necked Pheasant Heard by the early crew at Compost
Piles
Barn Owl 2 at windmill early, 3rd in nest box
Western Screech-Owl Matt & Scott got to see it this
morning
Red-breasted Sapsucker One near first footbridge
Hairy Woodpecker 3-4 seen, at several locations
Northern Shrike East Meadow
American Crow Allopreening observed
TREE SWALLOW Several, flying overhead
Bushtit Several, incl. pair building
a nest
Brown Creeper Several
Another sign of spring were several SALMONBERRY blossoms, at least 2
weeks before the usual start of flowering for Marymoor.
We had a few notable misses: Cooper's Hawk, Wilson's Snipe, Mew Gull,
Downy Woodpecker, White-crowned Sparrow, and American Goldfinch.
Even so, we managed 55 species for the day, with the Pheasant and the
Tree Swallows new for the year.
== Michael
Northern Flickers. Photo by Lillian Reis
Red-breasted Sapsucker. Photo by Lillian Reis
My extremely out of focus shot of a Bushtit building a nest
Adult Bald Eagle. Photo by Lillian Reis
Red-breasted Nuthatch near park office
Eastern Gray Squirrel. Photo by Lillian Reis
Green-winged Teal and Hooded Mergansers at the Rowing Club
Male Green-winged Teal at the Rowing Club. Photo by Ollie Oliver
Red-tailed Hawk Pair
Red-tailed Hawk pair. Photo by Lillian Reis
Male Hooded Merganser displaying to female.
Both photos by Ollie Oliver
Canada Geese. Photo by Ollie Oliver
Garter Snake photo by Ollie Oliver
Mew Gulls, with a juvenile Ring-billed Gull, center. Photo by Lillian Reis, 2/27
Tree Swallow. Photo by Lillian Reis, 2/27