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Friends of Marymoor Park
Recent Bird Sightings
Report for September 4, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
My car reported 34 degrees pre-dawn, but in patches it was below freezing. There was frost on the boardwalk railings and on the grass in the East Meadow. Once the sun rose it did warm up well (20 degree shift by noon). It was a really beautiful day, though it did slowly cloud up. Birdy at times. Several First of Fall (FOF) birds.
Highlights:
- Green-winged Teal - 3+ in the slough (FOF)
- American Coot - 2 in the slough near the lake (FOF)
- Double-crested Cormorant - About 20 flew up the slough towards the lake (FOF)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk - Juvenile near the start of the boardwalk
- Cooper's Hawk - One juvenile harassing (and harassed by) crows. We also had 1-2 accipidrine hawks we could not get to species
- Pileated Woodpecker - Heard several times, seen both at the beginning and towards the end of the walk
- Bushtit - Flock of ~50 near the mansion. It can be hard to count that long a stream of tiny birds
- White-throated Sparrow - One in blackberries and alders near Dog Area portapotties. First of Year (FOY)
- Western Meadowlark - Several in the NE part of the park, including some vocalizing
- Orange-crowned Warbler - One near southernmost dog swim beach - Quite bright
A late scan of the lake turned up a single male BUFFLEHEAD (FOF).
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, California Gull, Western Grebe, Merlin, and Cedar Waxwing.
For the day, 58 species. For the year, adding White-throated Sparrow, we're at 131 species for the survey
= Michael Hobbs |
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Savannah Sparrow, Pea Patch. Photo by Kris Anderson
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Bushtit near the mansion. Photo by Kris Anderson
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Report for October 9, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
The weather forecast might have scared off some people, since we were only three people today. Lo and behold, there was only about 40 minutes of noticeable precipitation, and while it was very dark at the start, we actually saw our shadows before the end. Temps were quite reasonable, and there was no wind. It wasn't particularly birdy, but the walk was definitely not a waste of time.
Highlights:
- Greater White-fronted Goose - 13, all adults, on Fields 7-8-9 with about 100 Cackling Geese. First of Fall (FOF)
- American Wigeon - One male above the weir (FOF)
- Ring-necked Duck - One just above the weir (FOF)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk - Adult at the south end of the East Meadow, harassed by crows. First of Year (FOY) for the survey
- Northern Shrike - One north of Fields 7-8-9 (FOF). Tied for the 6th-earliest fall sighting for shrike
- American Pipit - At least two flying over Fields 7-8-9
- Fox Sparrow - Notably widespread and numerous, several singing and several good looks (not just heard-only, nor merely skulking deep under the bushes)
- White-crowned Sparrow - Both gambelii and pugetensis song-types heard
- Western Meadowlark - Six or more, north of Fields 7-8-9 and on the grass & gravel lot to the east
The Pea Patch was notably full of birds today, but we didn't manage to spot any rarities amongst the many White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Song, and Savannah Sparrows, juncos, finches, robins, crows, and blackbirds.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Western Grebe, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Harrier, Cedar Waxwing, and Purple Finch.
For the day, 55 species. Adding the Sharp-shinned Hawk, I believe we're at 130 species for 2025.
= Michael Hobbs |
Report for October 2, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
It was a pleasant morning, with yesterday's wind and rain having cleared out long before sunrise. We had a dark overcast to start, steady clearing throughout the morning, and a sweater was sufficient for warmth. What we lacked this morning were birds; it was very quiet, with few sightings of note.
Highlights:
- Canada Goose - ONE. And, our only goose, despite having had Cackling Geese the last two weeks
- Northern Shoveler - One female above the weir; flew off before most could see it. First of Fall (FOF)
- Gadwall - Female with three males in the slough. The males were displaying with head's puffed up. Lots of neck stretching and posing
- Common Merganser - Seven or more around the weir
- Turkey Vulture - Several waiting for warm air in tall trees near the lake, probably 7+ total
- Pileated Woodpecker - Finally saw a male, just south of the heronry; he'd been calling regularly for at least half an hour before we saw him
- Violet-green Swallow - Dozens high in the air over the park, perhaps 75 total
Today was the first time we've had multiple vultures in trees. In fact, it may well be the first time we've had ANY vulture in a tree. I searched through checklist comments as well as all the photographs, and none indicate perching. And this was just the 5th time with more than 5 vultures reported. Three times we've had 20+ kettling. All of these 5+ days have been between Sept 21 and Oct 6.
A late scan of the lake turned up one CALIFORNIA GULL (FOF).
Misses were numerous: Cackling Goose, Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Wilson's Snipe, Green Heron, American Barn Owl, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Pipit, Western Meadowlark, and Common Yellowthroat. Our only warbler was one (maybe 2) heard-only Yellow-rumps.
For the day, just 49 species.
= Michael Hobbs |
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One of the perched Turkey Vultures. There were at least three in this tree.
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Report for September 25, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
A pretty good day at Marymoor. Though a bit nippy (49 degrees at the start), it was sunny and windless. Fairly birdy too.
Highlights:
- Band-tailed Pigeon - Two sightings of a single bird. We get fairly few sightings after mid-September
- Wilson's Snipe - Two landed in the mud on the far side of the slough opposite one of the Dog Beaches. Great looks, unusual location
- Osprey - Only one silent bird; nests are empty. We are unlikely to get another sighting this year
- American Kestrel - One in the East Meadow
- Merlin - One streaked by us near the start of our walk; thus a two falcon day
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet - At least one, singing weakly near Dog Central, never seen. First of Fall (FOF)
- Pacific Wren - One at the Rowing Club, heard calling but not seen (FOF)
- Swanson's Thrush - One heard pre-dawn, probably the last for the year
- Western Meadowlark - Five in the East Meadow (FOF)
We also had a tight flock of more than a dozen pale-bellied ducks flying down the slough fairly high - possibly American Wigeon, but hard to be sure.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, American Coot, California Gull, Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Bushtit (though I had some yesterday in the Dog Meadow), American Pipit (though we might have heard one), Savannah Sparrow, and Orange-crowned Warbler.
Despite the rather long list of misses, we still managed 56 species (not counting the mystery ducks). Not a bad day.
= Michael Hobbs |
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Female American Kestrel, East Meadow
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Female American Kestrel, East Meadow
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Report for September 18, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
A very fine morning today, with cool temperatures heating up pleasantly, blue skies, and no wind. Some pretty good birds, and quite a few First Of Fall (FOF) arrivals.
Highlights:
- Cackling Goose - flyby of about a dozen, calling (FOF)
- Wilson's Snipe - Eric heard one pre-dawn (FOF)
- Loon sp. - Three flew close overhead at the Lake Platform. Probably COLO
- American Barn Owl - Matt had one pre-dawn
- Barred Owl - One next to the boathouse at the Rowing Club, with prey
- Merlin - One near the weir
- California Scrub-Jay - Eric had one near the East entrance
- American Pipit - Heard overhead, mostly pre-dawn, never seen (FOF)
- Fox Sparrow - Two (FOF)
- Golden-crowned Sparrow - Several (FOF)
At the Pea Patch, I had an unusual sparrow that I believe was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, but I lost it and could not refind. Made for a 9 sparrow day.
Summer/migrant birds still or again present: VAUX'S SWIFT (Karen had 1), OSPREY (still with young on the nest), WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (1), VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (2), BARN SWALLOW (5?), SWAINSON'S THRUSH (heard pre-dawn), COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (5?), YELLOW WARBLER (2), YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (1), BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (1), and WESTERN TANAGER (1-2).
Nice to get a 4 warbler day.
We had some animals too, including four noisy RACCOONS below the weir, and a DOUGLAS SQUIRREL at the Pea Patch parking lot.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Bushtits, and Orange-crowned Warbler.
For the day, 62 species.
= Michael Hobbs |
Report for September 11, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
It was a dark, windless day with heavy air. Unsurprisingly, there were times when it was very quiet. However, it was a good day for raptors.
Highlights:
- Wood Duck - First pristine adult male of the fall, at the Rowing Club
- Mallard - Only TWO (or one, twice)
- Band-tailed Pigeon - Three total in two flybys. Possibly our last for the year
- Osprey - Young still on both nests, with food being delivered at too slow a pace to keep the young quiet
- Cooper's Hawk - We had several views. Tony had FOUR at once just before 7:00 a.m.
- Northern Harrier - Adult male. First of Year (FOY)
- Bald Eagle - One heard pre-dawn
- Red-tailed Hawk - One SE of the East Meadow
- American Barn Owl - Tony had one, pre-dawn, East Meadow
- American Kestrel - One flew west past the Viewing Mound. First of Fall (FOF)
- Western Wood-Pewee - One near the heronry. Likely our last flycatcher of the year
- Lincoln's Sparrow - Three just south of the East Meadow (FOF)
- Orange-crowned Warbler - Pretty one in the Pea Patch (FOF)
- Black-throated Gray Warbler - At least two
We also had a deceased American Shrew-Mole along the trail near the boardwalk.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, Vaux's Swift, Green Heron, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Willow Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Bushtit, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, and Western Tanager.
For the day, 51 species.
= Michael Hobbs |
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Deceased American Shrew-Mole
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