Marymoor Bird Blog

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Recent Bird Sightings

Report for March 13, 2025 Birding at Marymoor

Weather forecasts again were way worse than what we actually got. There was a little mizzle pre-dawn, and just a touch of mist occasionally during the actual survey. We even had sun and shadows a couple of times. Temps were in the 40's, though there was a breeze a lot of the time. The heavy rain apparently came through faster than expected.

The birds took their time getting going today. Jordan and Mason were just back from birding in Thailand (400+ species), so at least we had something to talk about. There wasn't too much of note today, and we had a very similar list of birds to last week's.

Highlights:

Virginia Rail - Kiddick kiddick "songs" spontaneously from several individuals west of the slough
California Gull - Several with a small flock of gulls on Fields 7-8-9, First of Year (FOY)
Great Blue Heron - Over 100 at/on the nests today, with much nest building
Five Woodpecker Day - Technically; both Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers were heard just enough to count
Violet-green Swallows - At the end of the main loop of the survey, around 25 VGSW were low over the slough just south of the weir
Red-winged Blackbird - 12-15 birds, including a female or two; much higher than previous weeks

Fairly early on, we had a very high-flying flock of white-bellied swallows, so it was great that we had the later sighting of both VIOLET-GREEN and TREE SWALLOWS down close and personal. Violet-greens outnumbered Trees by about 5-1.

Despite two reports of Rufous Hummingbird already this year at Marymoor, we are still waiting for our first. They should definitely be back in numbers in the next week or two. Also possible in the next couple of weeks are Turkey Vulture, Say's Phoebe, and Mountain Bluebird. And then, the first week in April should feature quite a few additional First of Year birds.

Misses today included Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, and Northern Shrike.

For the day, 56 species. Adding California Gull, the survey 2025 list is at 78 species.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for March 6, 2025 Birding at Marymoor

It was a flat morning, with a flat gray sky. We did more birding-by-ear than actually seeing birds, or at least so it felt. Not a bad day, not really. At this time of year, there is so much anticipation of new arrivals that it's easy to feel disappointed. It always feels like things are late, but so far nothing is late. If anything, birds are arriving towards the early end of things. So I try to remind myself, "patience". It doesn't help much.

Highlights:

Greater White-fronted Goose - The flock of seven was again present below the weir
Cackling Goose - One small, silent flock flew north. From now through the end of April, sightings become less and less likely
Ten species of duck - Though wigeons were not seen until near the Windmill, and Ring-necked Duck and Green-winged Teal were only at the Rowing Club ponds
Great Blue Heron - 100 birds were seen at the heronry at one time, with many others flying around grabbing sticks
Northern Shrike - Chasing what may have been a Yellow-rumped Warbler in the East Meadow
Violet-green Swallow - Two flying above the Tree Swallows over the East Meadow. First of Year (FOY)
Varied Thrush - One heard from near the Rowing Club while we were on the other side of the slough
Western Meadowlark - Three in the wetland north of Fields 7-8-9

Singing/displaying birds of note today: Red-breasted Sapsuckers were calling and drumming. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, and Purple Finch were very noticeably singing today.

We had a nice-looking COYOTE looking at us from across the slough.

Misses today: Wilson's Snipe, Short-billed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, and White-crowned Sparrow were the only notable misses (species seen on at least half of previous years during Week 10). So we pretty much found what's supposed to be there.

For the day, 56 species. For the year, adding VGSW, we're at 76 species for the surveys.

= Michael Hobbs

Coyote just north of the Rowing Club dock; Photo by Michael Hobbs

Report for February 27, 2025 Birding at Marymoor

It was a gorgeous day, and while it was cold to start (33 degrees), it warmed up too fast and too much. It was 53 degrees when we finished at 11, so 20 degrees in 4 hours. Impossible to dress for that! There was a lot of singing today, but it was mostly AMERICAN ROBINS. Everything else was spread rather thinly. It was a somewhat disappointing day.

Highlights:

Great Blue Heron - At least 60 birds on the nests simultaneously, with several others around
Red-breasted Sapsucker - Suddenly several sightings; almost certainly multiple birds. We've only had one bird once previously this year
Gull sp. - One distant, flying gull was our only larid. That's VERY unusual for this time of year
Northern Shrike - One popped up at the south end of the East Meadow just after I confidently declared that shrikes had likely moved north already
TREE SWALLOW - They're back (I had a few yesterday, we had more today). Probably a little fewer than 10 birds, but hard to say. Overhead several times
American Robin - Approximately 193 of them, all over everywhere all morning. They presented a full choir predawn chorus as well

A late scan of the lake turned up the only Ring-necked Ducks (2 drakes). There was also a female LESSER SCAUP which gave sufficient looks for positive ID. First (confirmed) of Year (FOY). There was also a falcon that flew low over the lake. Had me thinking Peregrine Falcon, but I could not rule out Merlin.

Displaying/etc. birds today: Bufflehead (some head bobbing), Common Goldeneye (extended displays ending with the head thrown back), Great Blue Heron bringing sticks to the nest, Northern Flicker drumming. Singing today: Anna's Hummingbird, Black-capped Chickadee, [Ruby-crowned Kinglet yesterday but not today], Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, House Finch, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow (gambelii), Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, and Red-winged Blackbird.

The mammal list was better than usual, unlike the bird list. Eastern Gray Squirrel, American Beaver, Muskrat (FOY), Eastern Cottontail, and Mule Deer (FOY). All but the squirrel were only seen before 7 a.m.

Misses today were Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, American Coot (never missed before during Week 9), Wilson's Snipe, Short-billed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull (though I think that's what the larus sp. actually was), Purple Finch (may have heard), and Western Meadowlark (though I had one yesterday around 3 p.m.).

For the day, just 50 species plus the gull and falcon.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for February 20, 2025 Birding at Marymoor

Today felt so different from last week, and it felt like a real beginning to Spring. Birds were singing, and not just a few; many songs from many species. The weather wasn't too bad either, with temps in the mid-40's and come-and-go overcast. It was a touch breezy at times, but nothing too bad at all.

Highlights:

Greater White-fronted Goose - Seven at the weir
Anna's Hummingbird - Some singing, though no display flights noted today
Great Blue Heron - 35+ birds seen at the heronry
Bald Eagle - My best estimate was 5 adults
Black-capped Chickadee - quite a bit of singing
Brown Creeper - Heard one song
Pacific Wren - Spontaneous song from two birds
Bewick's Wren - Many singing
American Robin - A few songs, and many birds total
Cedar Waxwing - Seven near the Dog Area portapotties
House Finch - One song
Dark-eyed Junco - Many, many singing
Song Sparrow - Many singing
Spotted Towhee - At least two heard singing
Red-winged Blackbird - Quite a few Okalee songs

We had a large, mixed flock of gulls that never landed where we could see them. Short-billed Gull calls were heard, and I believe that's what most of them were. There were also a couple of GWGUs. A Ring-billed Gull showed up during my late scan of the lake. Most years, all of these gulls have been easy to view every week; this winter, they aren't always spending time in the park, causing us to "miss" normally regular species.

That late scan of the lake also turned up two HORNED GREBE, and in the trees at the NW corner of the lake at least two RED-CROSSBILLS, First of Year (FOY).

Misses today included Virginia Rail, American Coot (1st miss for Week 8 ever), Cooper's Hawk, and Marsh Wren (may have heard, but couldn't confirm because of too many singing Bewick's).

For the day, 55 species. With the addition of RED CROSSBILL, we're at 75 species for 2025.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for February 13, 2025 Birding at Marymoor

Strange Marymoor walk today. It was really cold and dry (29 degrees to start, but felt colder), sometimes breezy, never really sunny, and mostly birdless. We also had no access to much of the slough, as the entire slough trail through the Dog Area was closed for maintenance. It was also just Matt and me, as many of the usuals are birding far away in warmer climes.

Despite the difficult slough access, we managed to do okay with waterbirds. It was all of the rest of the avian world that was almost entirely absent until around 10 a.m., at which point we started to find some things. The Rowing Club turned out to be, by far, the best location of the day.

Highlights:

Trumpeter Swan - Three, seen distantly and briefly from the Lake Platform; never seen before during Week 7
Scaup sp. - One female kept herself hidden along the slough edge; thus we still have no identified Scaup since October
Bushtit - FINALLY - a small flock in the Big Cottonwood Forest - First of Year (FOY)
Cedar Waxwing - 18 at the Rowing Club; seen only about 8% of February visits. (FOY)
Pine Siskin - Only barely heard about 4 times
Yellow-rumped Warbler - One on the ice at the Lake Platform

From the Lake Platform to the Viewing Mound, we had essentially no birds at all. There was a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS sitting close to each other east of the meadow, and maybe one Song Sparrow along the way. But it hadn't been much better along the boardwalk, nor though the Dog Area.

Misses today included Ring-necked Duck, Virginia Rail, American Coot, Short-billed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, European Starling (first miss ever for Week Seven), and Purple Finch.

Picking up five species at the Rowing Club definitely helped our day total, which by the end hit a semi-respectable 51 species (including scaup sp.) With two FOY birds, we're up to 74 species for 2025.

= Michael Hobbs

Deceased Deer Mouse, bottom of the East Meadow. Photo by Michael Hobbs

Report for February 6, 2025 Birding at Marymoor

The morning was covered in snow, though not very deep. It varied from 0.5" to a max of about 2", but it was clinging to everything in the 32 degree weather. It cleared very soon after sunrise, and we had a very pleasant day with no wind and a few moments of sunshine. Birdwise, it was varied, with long stretches of not much at all, but occasional good stuff.

Highlights:

Greater White-fronted Goose - Six below the weir, with Canadas
Wood Duck - Two drakes seen from the Lake Platform
Cooper's Hawk - Adult, probably a male by size, seen from near the start of the boardwalk
Red-breasted Sapsucker - One at the Rowing Club (FOY)
Pileated Woodpecker - One heard distantly, then seen perhaps even more distantly. First of Year (FOY)
Five Woodpecker Day - With all of them seen
Merlin - One came and went as we finished the main loop
HUTTON'S VIREO - One at the Rowing Club (FOY)
Varied Thrush - One near the windmill
Purple Finch - One singing, unseen, near the first Dog Swim Beach

I saw a RIVER OTTER, far out from the Lake Platform. And Jordan and I saw a COYOTE walking towards us on the grass trail around the East Meadow. Both animals First of Year.

A late scan of the lake turned up our only RING-NECKED DUCKS and confirmed HORNED GREBE. The surprise was 5 TRUMPETER SWANS just off the Lake Platform (FOY)

The HUTTON'S VIREO was just our 5th sighting ever for February. We have one December record, and no sightings at all for January. But Hutton's isn't common at Marymoor, with fewer than 50 records over the last 30 years.

Near Dog Central, we faced a problem I've never had to deal with before. There was a whole flock of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS foraging from the ground, all the way up the trunks to the crown of large Cottonwoods. They were everywhere. And a BROWN CREEPER was singing. I've never been faced with trying to find the Creeper amongst the numerous Golden-crowned Sparrows that were probing the moss on the trunks and branches!

Misses today were notable, including Green-winged Teal (after 45+ each of the last 2 weeks), Virginia Rail, Short-billed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Bushtit (still none for us in 2025). We also had no Cackling Geese, owls, Northern Shrike, or Pine Siskin.

For the day, though, we had 57 species, with 4 new for the year, putting us at 72 species in 2025.

= Michael Hobbs

Coyote in the East Meadow. Photo by Michael Hobbs

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