Marymoor Bird Blog

Friends of Marymoor Park

Recent Bird Sightings

Report for April 18, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

It started out a frosty 32 degrees, but once the sun came up, so did the temperature. By the end, it was about 56 degrees, so a huge swing in a few hours. It was pretty birdy, though we haven't hit the big push of spring migration yet.

Highlights:

Cackling Goose - One flock (maybe two) of about 50
Cinnamon Teal - Very nice looking drake just below the weir. First of Year (FOY)
Eurasian Collared-Dove - One near the Pea Patch at 7:00 a.m. (FOY)
Osprey - Either 2 or 4 birds. Geese are nesting on all of the old OSPR nests, so one pair is building a new nest in the NE
Sharp-shinned Hawk - One seen from our cars at 6:30 a.m.
Pileated Woodpecker - Pair at snag nest in Big Cottonwood Forest
Hutton's Vireo - Singing away near the windmill
Hermit Thrush - One heard on edge of Dog Meadow, unseen (FOY)
Fox Sparrow - Only one, singing near the madrona along the slough
Western Meadowlark - One in the East Meadow
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD - One male near the Viewing Mound (FOY)
Common Yellowthroat - Quite a few heard, a couple seen
Orange-crowned Warbler - One, singing, heard-only
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dozens

Kathy Kuyper photographed two male and one female BREWER'S BLACKBIRD on Sunday. It was nice to get one on the survey today, as we only get about one report a year for them.

Misses today included Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, House Finch, and Lincoln's Sparrow.

For the day, 67 species. We're up to 100 species for the year.

On Saturday, April 13th, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was found in the park, and seen/photographed by many people.

= Michael Hobbs

Brewer's Blackbirds, 2024-04-14. Photo by Kathy Kuyper

Report for April 11, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

We had dark overcast for most of the morning today. There was lots of singing, but bird sightings were in short supply. About 8 species were heard-only, with another two seen pre-dawn only, and two more seen only on a late scan of the lake. Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - The two hung out with Canadas near the Viewing Mound Cackling Goose - Two flocks of ~75 each, flying north Mourning Dove - Tony photographed one before sunrise, First of Year (FOY) Great Blue Heron - A low chorus of "grum grum grum", indicating multiple young in the nests Osprey - They're Back - Probably at least 4 birds (FOY). Canada Geese continue to occupy the nests, though Cooper's Hawk - One flyby, first in a month Purple Martin - Male and female, each in a gourd (FOY), and the 3rd-earliest we've had them in spring Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Perhaps four, seen from the Lake Platform (FOY) Barn Swallow - Two, one at the lake, one at the Pea Patch (FOY) Yellow-rumped Warbler - Quite numerous, and the only warbler seen. Heard about 7 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and 1 ORANGE-CROWNED The only sightings of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE later in the spring than today's are three times that large flocks were seen flying overhead. Dates of these late flyovers were 4/17/2014, 4/24/2023, and 5/2/2010. So today's were the latest seen on the ground at the park. Excluding Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco, sparrow numbers were notably low. We had fewer than 5 each of FOX, WHITE-CROWNED, and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, and of SPOTTED TOWHEE. SAVANNAH SPARROWS might have been fewer than 10. We did not find the White-throated Sparrow that has been with the flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows that we also did not find. A late scan of the lake turned up the only VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW and PIED-BILLED GREBES. Mammals seen today included two COYOTE near the model airplane field just before sunrise. Misses today included Common Goldeneye, Virginia Rail, Glaucous-winged Gull, Red-tailed Hawk, American Goldfinch, and Lincoln's Sparrow. For the day, 62 species. Adding 5 species, we're at 96 species for the year. = Michael Hobbs
Pre-dawn Mourning Dove. Photo by Tony Ernst	"Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warbler. Photo by Tony Ernst
Loggerhead Shrike, 2024-04-13. Photo by Jason Vassallo	Loggerhead Shrike, 2024-04-13. Photo by Jason Vassallo

Report for April 4, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

It was a special day today at Marymoor, though the weather was NOT the special part. It was especially dark all morning, and quite chilly. Many birds were singing, but good looks were scarce.

We started off with donuts and bagels to celebrate the 30th birthday of the Marymoor surveys. That's about 1500 surveys, and I've made nearly that many additional visits to the park over the last 30 years. Some might ask if I might be getting tired of going to the same place over and over and over and over.

Well, it may be the same place, but there's always something new to see. In fact, today we had A NEW BIRD FOR MARYMOOR PARK, the 245th species! Just north of Fields 7-8-9 was a male WESTERN BLUEBIRD! The survey needs to continue at least until that number is up to 250!

Other highlights:

Canada Goose - Appear to be attempting to nest on two Osprey nests and on the eagle nest visible from the Lake Platform
Northern Pintail??? - Flock of about 20 ducks that were almost certainly NOPI but could have been wigeon
Lesser Scaup - One female seen from the Lake Platform - First of Year (FOY)
Bushtit - Three nests observed, but no activity noted at any of them
Purple Finch - Singing constantly heard, several birds, two seen
White-throated Sparrow - Continuing, this time near the Dog Area portapotties
Western Meadowlark - 3-5 seen, including 3 near the Western Bluebird
Orange-crowned Warbler - Two singing near the east end of the boardwalk (FOY)
Common Yellowthroat - At least one singing, heard from the Viewing Mound. Two seen on Monday (FOY)
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Widespread and numerous, both Myrtle and Audubon's, some singing

On my brief visit Monday afternoon, I had several birds not seen today: BAND-TAILED PIGEON, TURKEY VULTURE (FOY), SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK (a pair doing a courtship flight), and BELTED KINGFISHER.

Missed both days: Wilson's Snipe, Osprey (should arrive any day now), Red-breasted Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, and Lincoln's Sparrow.

For the day, 59 species plus the mystery flying ducks. Adding Lesser Scaup, Turkey Vulture, Western Bluebird, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Common Yellowthroat, we're at 91 species for the year.

= Michael Hobbs

Western Bluebird. Photo by Jordan Roderick

Report for March 28, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

We mostly dodged the rain this morning, though it was overcast, a touch breezy, and changeable, with temps spanning the 40's. Seemed pretty birdy, but the bird list was very similar to last week's. There was no sign of Say's Phoebe (seen 3/23-3/26) nor Black Phoebe (photographed 3/24).

Highlights:

Greater White-fronted Goose - The two remain at the park. Seen on grass soccer fields, and later at the lake
Anna's Hummingbird - Found a female on a nest above the Rowing Club parking lot
Short-billed Gull - Adults and juveniles on grass soccer fields. First in 4 weeks. A few tend to turn up through April
Great Horned Owl - Again heard calling just pre-dawn from the southeast. Tony saw a large owl from the boardwalk earlier, probably the same
Merlin - Quick flyby - our 5th survey this year (5 of 13 weeks)
Hutton's Vireo - Again, heard singing near the windmill
Violet-Green/Tree Swallows - Very numerous, mostly VGSW
White-crowned Sparrow - First singing of the year - Pugetensis song
White-throated Sparrow - STILL near Dog Swim Beaches 2-3
Savannah Sparrow - First singing of the year
Brown-headed Cowbird - Tony heard and photographed a male, First of Year (FOY)

I was at the park briefly yesterday, and had KILLDEER and WESTERN MEADOWLARK, both of which we missed today.

Missed both days: Common Goldeneye, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Shrike, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Purple Finch.

For the day, 61 species. Adding BHCO, we're at 86 species for the year.

= Michael Hobbs

The first Brown-headed Cowbird of the year. Photo by Tony Ernst

Male Rufous Hummingbird feeding on Red Flowering Currant. Photo by Tony Ernst

Report for March 21, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

Our equinox survey started with sleepy birders and sleepy birds under dark grey skies, but the day became quite pleasant and birdy by 8 or 8:30. Highlights: Northern Shoveler - Flyby of 5 birds - First of Year (FOY) Gadwall - Perhaps 30, a pretty high count for Marymoor Northern Pintail - One flock flying north, followed by a seemingly larger (~35) flying south (FOY) Twelve species of duck total! Rufous Hummingbird - Three males, including one doing a J-display (FOY) Great Blue Heron - At least one eggshell under the heronry Great Horned Owl - One calling pre-dawn from the SE (FOY) Pileated Woodpecker - Excavating a hole in a snag in the Big Cottonwood Forest, right next to the trail Merlin - A rather pale individual ENE of the mansion Hutton's Vireo - Finally saw one. Like our other two reports this year, it was singing southwest of the windmill Violet-green Swallow - Probably well over 100 (FOY) Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Ubiquitous. Really. Somewhere between 30 and 50 Varied Thrush - Probably at least 3, including good looks at the south end of the Dog Area Purple Finch - At least two heard, in full song. First in a month White-throated Sparrow - Continues near 2nd/3rd Dog Swim Beach, with Golden-crowned Sparrows I was also at the park yesterday and had 5 species that we didn't have today: BAND-TAILED PIGEON, RING-BILLED GULL, HAIRY WOODPECKER, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (one male, singing below the weir) amazingly (FOY), and SAVANNAH SPARROW (about a dozen, most at the Model Airplane Field (FOY). Missed both today and yesterday: Short-billed Gull, Cooper's Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Shrike, and Pacific Wren. I had 55 species yesterday, we had 62 species today, with a combined total of 67 species. With 7 new species this week, we're at 85 species for the year. = Michael Hobbs
Male Rufous Hummingbird. Photo by Tony Ernst	Brown Creeper. Photo by Tony Ernst
Flock of 30 Northern Pintail. Photo by Tony Ernst
Male Pileated Woodpecker excavating a hole. Photo by Tony Ernst	Heavily-cropped view of a Merlin. Photo by Milt Vine

Report for March 14, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

First off, NOBODY brought us pie on Pi Day. Other than that, though, we had a really good morning at the park. It was sunny, windless, and while it was a frosty 32 degrees at the start, it reached 50 degrees by the end. LOTS of singing and other signs of the ramping up of the breeding season. Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - Today, the two were seen from the Lake Platform American Wigeon - Three amongst the large flock of Mallards on Fields 7-8-9 at sunrise Band-tailed Pigeon - One near the east end of the boardwalk. First of Year (FOY) Five Woodpecker Day - With lots of calling and drumming. Looks at all but Hairy, which called near the windmill Shrike sp. - One about 7:15 north of Fields 7-8-9 Tree Swallow - Somewhere around 6 or 8, seen checking nest boxes both at the Pea Patch and East Meadow (FOY) Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Everywhere, with lots of singing, calling, and flashing of ruby crowns Varied Thrush - Perhaps 2 heard near the south end of the Dog Area, and one seen near the mansion Western Meadowlark - Five in and around the East Meadow, some singing coyote - Tracy and I saw one predawn at the Model Airplane Field (foy) I was not able to get close enough to the shrike to rule out Loggerhead; we've seen Loggerhead Shrike 3 years previously during this week of the year, accounting for 15% of shrike sightings during Week 11. That's a high enough ratio that I won't just assume this was a Northern Shrike. That said, most of our LOSH sightings (in fact, all our other sightings) have been in April. The Great Blue Heronry is getting very active, with herons sitting down in many of the nests, lots of nest building observed, and one copulation observed as well. Misses today included Hooded Merganser, Short-billed Gull, Violet-green Swallow, Purple Finch, and American Goldfinch. For the day, 62 species. We're up to 78 species for the year. = Michael Hobbs
Male Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Photo by Tony Ernst	Juvenile Cooper's Hawk. Photo by Tony Ernst
"Myrtle"-type Yellow-rumped Warbler. Photo by Tony Ernst	Tree Swallow. Photo by Tony Ernst