Birding in the Snow

This week was one of the coldest weeks on record for Seattle. With over 9 inches of snow and temperatures never rising above freezing, it has been a very snowy week. I spent most of this week with family, sledding and watching movies, but I decided to journey over to Union Bay for some snowy birding.

Snow seems to bring out the kinglets. Although there weren't necessarily more kinglets than usual, they were all out in the fields, fluttering from place to place. Usually kinglets dart through the trees and are much harder to observe. I got some great views of Ruby-crowned Kinglets especially, although there were also several Golden-crowned Kinglets.

Song Sparrows and Spotted Towhees were also everywhere. I was glad to find a Lincoln's Sparrow too, not a species I see very frequently.

The waterfowl were less abundant than usual, with many of the ponds frozen over. I did get some great views of Trumpeter Swans though. In the canal, where the flowing water keeps it from freezing, I saw my first Northern Pintail at the fill, as well as a female Ruddy Duck. I also saw a Killdeer get flushed by a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

I found the flock of Greater White-fronted Geese that has been there the last few times, which was cool to see. I got some really nice views of a Great Blue Heron and the last highlight was a Barred Owl sleeping in a conifer.