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Bird Sightings Week 24
June 11-17*

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Rarities for Week 24:

Least Flycatcher 17-Jun-10 Set up territory near Dog Central, 17-Jun through 15-Jul
Ash-throated Flycatcher 14-Jun-21 East Meadow.  Jeff Deam, photos
Ash-throated Flycatcher 15-Jun-05 East Meadow
Ash-throated Flycatcher 17-Jun-10  
House Wren 10-Jun-21 Bird remained 03-Jun to at least 01-Jul
Yellow-breasted Chat 13-Jun-24 East Meadow, singing and displaying
Yellow-headed Blackbird 15-Jun-13 Photographed by Tony Ernst
Indigo Bunting
 11-Jun-20 Singing male, Dog Meadow. remained 11-Jun to at least 16-Jul

Report for June 13, 2024                                                                                                                   Birding at Marymoor

It was fabulous to be out today - Not too cold, not too hot, great light, no wind, and lots of singing and activity.  And Marymoor chipped in with a couple of surprises.

Highlights:
  • Mourning Dove - One flew down the East Meadow
  • Rufous Hummingbird - Several females seen; we've been seeing males most of the time previously this year
  • Caspian Tern - Perhaps as many as four flying around the lake.  First of Year (FOY) for the survey
  • Great Blue Heron - Many young, fledged birds, doing their bests to fly and fish
  • Pileated Woodpecker - A couple of sightings.  June is the month with the fewest records of this species
  • Western Flycatcher - One heard at the Rowing Club
  • YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - Singing male, SE of the East Meadow (FOY)
  • MacGillivray's Warbler - Male singing and posing, south of Dog Central along the slough trail
Initially, we barely heard the singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT while we walked the grass trail along the east edge of the East Meadow.  We made our way, through the tall reed-canary grass and stinging nettles, east and south to where we were able to get distant views of the bird.  It was singing frequently, and at least 4-5 times we saw it do display flights (which none of us had ever seen chats do before), where it would fly with its head up and its feet and tail hanging straight down, forming an inverted L shape.  It would fly slowly with very fluttery wingbeats to a new bush or tree to sing from.  This appears to be just the 5th record of YBCH for Marymoor, and the first record for June.  The other dates were May 15, 2019; May 31, 2021; July 12-14, 2012; and August 25 and September 9, 2006.

MacGillivray's Warbler turns up about two out of every three years.  This is our 2nd sighting in the last 3 weeks, and today it gave more opportunity for views.

Also notable today were a large number of Eastern Cottontail including fairly small young, and a dead vole on the path.

Misses today included Common Merganser, Rock Pigeon, Black Swift, Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher, & Cliff Swallow.

For the day, 58 species.

- Michael Hobbs

   

Female Rufous Hummingbird. Photo by Jordan Roderick



MacGillivray's Warbler. Photo by Jordan Roderick

   

Male Pileated Woodpecker excavating a hole. Photo by Jordan Roderick

Report for June 15, 2023                                                                                                                   Birding at Marymoor

It could have been slightly warmer, but otherwise it was a delightful morning.  Baby birds were everywhere (young of at least 16 species were seen).  We even got a few species that we haven't had already this month :)

Highlights:
  • Wood Duck - At least 4 females had clutches of ducklings, at least 25 in all
  • Killdeer - Adult with two very small babies in the gravel parking lot
  • Caspian Tern - Two flew north, First of Year (FOY)
  • Cooper's Hawk - One being pursued by crows, first in 6 weeks
  • Red-breasted Sapsucker - We now know of two nests with babies
  • Red-eyed Vireo - One singing between boardwalk and East Meadow gave us great looks (FOY)
The Pileated Woodpecker babies apparently fledged since last Thursday, and we neither saw nor heard any.  In fact, despite Pileated Woodpeckers nesting in the Big Cottonwood Forest in at least 2 different years, we've NEVER seen PIWO during this week of the year.  I guess they fledge and flee.

I may have heard a Black-throated Gray Warbler singing across the slough from the windmill, but couldn't quite verify.

For the day, 60 species, including a very warn and battered juvenile gull, Larus sp.

= Michael Hobbs


Anna's Hummingbird, 2023-06-12. Photo by Kazuto Shibata


Anna's Hummingbird, 2023-06-12. Photo by Kazuto Shibata


Killdeer, 2023-06-15. Photo by Kazuto Shibata


Killdeer, 2023-06-15. Photo by Kazuto Shibata


Killdeer, 2023-06-15. Photo by Kazuto Shibata


Rufous Hummingbird, 2023-06-15. Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Report for June 16, 2022                                                                                                                   Birding at Marymoor

Well, we FINALLY had nice weather on a Thursday.  Feels like it's been forever.  Still not exactly warm (50 degrees to start), but otherwise quite pleasant.  We had a couple of sprinkles which moved on to make a full rainbow, which was pretty cool.  Fairly birdy, though as almost always in June our species count was less than 60.

Highlights:
  • Wood Duck - Female with 10 tiny ducklings in the slough
  • Common Merganser - Female with 2 tiny ducklings across from the Rowing Club dock
  • Eurasian Collared-Dove - One flew down the East Meadow
  • CASPIAN TERN - We had somewhere around 20 BIRDS (broken up into small groups), all ll flying north.  Hard to know if there were duplicates
  • Great Blue Heron - Fledged young along the slough, nests still quite active
  • Hairy Woodpecker - Adult with apparent juvenile, plus one more sighting; first sightings since February!
  • WESTERN KINGBIRD - One in the East Meadow.
  • Warbling Vireo - One singing on a nest at the Rowing Club
  • RED-EYED VIREO - One calling (not singing) at the south end of the Dog Meadow. First of Year (FOY)
  • Bullock's Oriole - Adult with apparent juvenile.  Later, female with nesting material
  • Lazuli Bunting - Multiple males, one female
We had baby birds of no less than 11 species today.

Unlike last week, we got looks at most of the birds today,  Quite nice when that happens.

Misses today included Canada Goose, Rock Pigeon, Black Swift, Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher, and Cliff Swallow.

For the day, 58 species.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for June 17, 2021                                                                                                                      Birding at Marymoor

This (near-)Solstice Edition of the Marymoor Survey was a truly enjoyable day at the park.  Crystal clear air (after a trace of morning fog quickly burned off), comfortable temps, blue skies, no wind.  Birds were singing, and were out and about, allowing wonderful looks.  Many fledged and unfledged young.  Hummingbirds (many of them young) were chasing each other as well as any other bird they could find.  We had at least a couple of dozen hummingbirds, about equal Anna’s and Rufous.
 
Highlights:
  • Wood Duck – at least three clutches of babies with moms; no obvious adult males
  • Vaux’s Swift – great looks at 4-5 drinking from the slough in flight, just out from the Lake Platform
  • Rufous Hummingbird – an unexpectedly large number of juveniles about
  • Caspian Tern – early flyby of 6, and one from the Lake Platform
  • Great Blue Heron – many large young in the nests
  • Cooper’s Hawk – one subadult below the weir
  • Red-breasted Sapsucker – at least 2 drumming males, and several additional sightings
  • Downy Woodpecker – several, including adult male flying around with a juvenile, south end of the East Meadow
  • HAIRY WOODPECKER – our first sighting in many weeks – an adult bringing food to a nest hole with at least one noisy youngster, RIGHT OVER THE TRAIL.  They must have been in stealth mode for the last 6 weeks
  • Merlin – quick flyby near the concert stage
  • Northern Rough-winged Swallow – one or two below the weir
  • HOUSE WREN – continuing semi-rarity - singing incessantly from birch tree just south of the Pet Memorial Garden (or SE of the Pea Patch)
  • MacGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER – male at the Mysterious Thicket (between East Meadow and east end of the boardwalk), singing Common Yellowthroat song!!! – First of Year, but Kazuto photographed it on 2021-06-10
  • Western Tanager – at least two at Rowing Club
  • Lazuli Bunting – many singing males, 2-3 females, male feeding either a juvenile or an adult female
We had a near disaster.  We were tracking down a very loud chip note on the lawn NE of the mansion.  It turned out to be a juvenile DARK-EYED JUNCO, too young to fly.  I very nearly stepped on it, whence it fluttered away with lots of squawking.  An AMERICAN CROW then flew down to snatch the chick, but the crow momentarily backed off at our shouts and hand waving.  The Junco parents immediately chased the crow away.  We left the area hoping the crow (which returned, still mobbed by the adult juncos) would continue to be thwarted.
 
Misses today included Gadwall, Common Merganser, Black Swift, Green Heron, and Cliff Swallow.
 
There was no sign of the Gray Catbird seen on the 12th, nor the Ash-throated Flycatcher seen on the 14th.
 
For the day, 64 species.
 
= Michael Hobbs
Ash-throated Flycatcher, 2021-06-14.
Photo by Jeff Deam
Ash-throated Flycatcher, 2021-06-14.
Photo by Jeff Deam

The MacGillivray's Warbler that sings Common Yellowthroat songs.
Photo by Kazuto Shibata, 2021-06-10

Report for June 11, 2020                                                                                                                 Birding at Marymoor

We had a heavy overcast yesterday, with worsening weather. Soon it was misting, then drizzling. Before we got to the Rowing Club, it was full-on rain. The heavy overcast made seeing difficult at times, a particular problem when we found a very interesting bunting that we have identified as an INDIGO BUNTING in the Dog Meadow.

Highlights:

  • Wood Duck – two clutches of ducklings, one of 3, the other of 9
  • BLACK SWIFT – About 16 total, with at least a dozen over the boardwalk
  • American Coot – lone bird remains with lone Pied-billed Grebe across from Lake Platform
  • Green Heron – flying south over grass soccer fields. First since March
  • Western Screech-Owl – Matt saw an adult over the east end of the boardwalk pre-dawn
  • Downy Woodpecker – adult male seen feeding a fledgling Red Elderberries
  • Purple Martin – at least 17 birds by actual count. Martins are nesting in at least one hole in the snags west of the slough
  • Tree Swallow – babies in some of the nest boxes
  • Northern Rough-winged Swallow – Uncommon at Marymoor after mid-May; probably 3 seen in total
  • Pine Siskin – several around the mansion, high in the trees
  • Red-winged Blackbird – babies begging and being fed
  • ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER – uncommon after mid-May at Marymoor. We had two in the “Mysterious Thicket” area south of the East Meadow
  • Wilson’s Warbler – uncommon after the first week in June at Marymoor. One heard singing from across the slough
  • Lazuli Bunting – Great looks, much singing. Matt thinks four males
  • INDIGO BUNTING – Singing male in the area of the south/middle of the off-leash dog area dominated by Spirea. Flying tree to bush.

We spent a lot of time trying to get looks and photos of the INDIGO BUNTING. It didn’t seem quite typical for Indigo, but also didn’t appear like most photos of Lazuli x Indigo, a hybrid that has been seen several times in Washington. The entire head and most of the breast were brilliant deep blue perfect for Indigo Bunting, but the wings had more black than is typical for Indigo adults, and the flanks and lower belly were rather gray. We could see no wing bars, which would be typical of a hybrid. Photos were obtained by Jordan Roderick, and later by Kazuto Shibata. We left the park believing it was probably a pure Indigo, but when I looked at Kazuto’s photos on the tiny screen of my phone, there appeared to be wing bars, so I posted to Tweeters that the bird was probably a hybrid. But closer looks at both Jordan’s and Kazuto’s photos seem to show no wing bars, and patterning in the gray of the lower belly and flanks.

So the general consensus now seems to be a 1st summer male (i.e. hatched last year)

This is a new species for Marymoor Park, and rare bird for the state (on the WBRC review list)!

= Michael Hobbs


Photo by Jordan Roderick
Photo by Jordan Roderick


Photo by Jordan Roderick


Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Photo by Kazuto Shibata
Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Report for June 13, 2019                                                                                                                 Birding at Marymoor

A great day to be out.  We had a very pleasant morning at Marymoor, though there were few surprises.  Access near the mansion was limited due to preparations for the Washington Brewers Festival that starts tomorrow.  
 
Highlights:
  • Wood Duck – at least 2 clutches of small ducklings
  • Virginia Rail – one doing Kiddick Kiddick calls from across the slough south of the Dog Area
  • Spotted Sandpiper – 2 or 3 at and below the weir
  • Great Blue Heron – the heronry is very loud and smelly, with many young birds growing feathers
  • BARN OWL – Matt heard babies in windmill.  At about 4:40 a.m., a juvenile flew around the East Meadow, mobbed by crows
  • WESTERN SCREECH-OWL – Matt had two early, including one with horizontal barring of a juvenile
  • Belted Kingfisher – First in 5 weeks
  • Warbling Vireo – surprisingly, only one heard-only, singing near the Rowing Club
  • Dark-eyed Junco – many juveniles
  • WILSON’S WARBLER – one or possibly two singing, south of Dog Meadow.  Seasonally unusual
  • Lazuli Bunting – one male, SW of Pea Patch
Misses included Canada Goose, Rock Pigeon, Black Swift, Green Heron, Cliff Swallow, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.
 
For the day, 60 species, nothing new for our year list.

== Michael Hobbs


Bald Eagle.  Photo by Hugh Jennings

Nests full of Great Blue Heron chicks.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Report for June 14, 2018                                                                                                                 Birding at Marymoor

The rain did NOT clear off early. In fact, we had everything from mist to rain until about 9:00 a.m., which, ah, put a damper on things. We did eventually get sunshine, and luckily mist and mizzle dominated. It was pretty birdy, though birds were not always easily visible. Lot of baby birds about, which also meant lots of squeaks and chirps in the bushes.

Highlights:

  • Wood Duck – female with a host of small ducklings, several adults too
  • Hooded Merganser – a couple of flybys
  • Pied-billed Grebe – adult from Lake Platform; first since the end of April
  • Band-tailed Pigeon – especially numerous
  • Mourning Dove – one along weir; always possible but never expected at Marymoor
  • Black Swift – two distant birds
  • Green Heron – flyby
  • Western Screech-Owl – Matt heard and saw one ~4:15, east of boardwalk
  • Red-breasted Sapsucker – nest hole with baby(s) near Dog Central in old cottonwood
  • Peregrine Falcon – 2nd week in a row; adult flew past Pea Patch heading west
  • Northern Rough-winged Swallow – at least one
  • MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER – singing, and glimpsed, west edge of Dog Meadow. First of 2018, and first since 2015
  • Western Tanager – female-type. Not expected this time of year.
  • Lazuli Bunting – 2-3 males singing near Viewing Mound, giving great looks

MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER is just shy of outright rare at Marymoor, with only 22 sightings, and reports from only 12 of the last 25 years. Today’s sighting was the latest spring date ever by four days, and only the 2nd June sighting ever. Most sightings have been in May, September, and October, with a few more in spring than in fall.

Baby birds included (incomplete list): Wood Duck, Mallard, Rufous Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Black-capped Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, European Starling, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco.

For the day, 68 species.

== Michael Hobbs


Band-tailed Pigeons.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Male Blue-winged Teal, 2018-05-12.  Photo by William Fletcher


Male Common Yellowthroat feeding juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird...


...Two photos by William Fletcher, 2018-06-17

Report for June 15, 2017                                                                                                                   Birding at Marymoor

Weather was pretty similar to last week, with mist and mizzle, and with light rain starting about 10:00 a.m. It was a bit birdier perhaps, but not much. Definitely a lot of baby birds.

Highlights:

  • Common Nighthawk – Matt heard one about 4:00 a.m. – FOY
  • Black Swift – 2 or 3 over NE corner of lake
  • Great Blue Herons – babies are very large, many look about to fledge
  • Bald Eagle – we didn’t have a scope, but the nest looks to have 2 babies
  • Barn Owl – Matt had what looked to be an adult and a juvie over East Meadow, early
  • Hairy Woodpecker – one near Lake Platform – first since early May
  • American Crow – babies abound
  • Tree Swallow – 1-2 fledged young seen
  • House Finch – adult feeding young in Pea Patch
  • White-crowned Sparrow – adult feeding young in Pea Patch
  • Red-winged Blackbird – several fledged young

We had an unusual mammal sighting – a myotis bad was flying low over the slough, actively feeding, for many minutes around 6:30 a.m.

For the day, we had 61 species, with Common Nighthawk new for the year.

== Michael Hobbs

 


Short-eared Owl, 2017-06-10.  Photo by Kazuto Shibata


Short-eared Owl, 2017-06-10.  Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Report for June 16, 2016                                                                                                                     Birding at Marymoor

What’s with this weather? Cool, big rumpled puffs of clouds (rather than a real overcast), unexpected showers. Except for the plethora of baby birds, it didn’t feel much like summer today.

Highlights:

Green Heron                 Two, we think, along slough
Cooper’s Hawk             Adult. First since early May
Spotted Sandpiper         At least 3 below weir. Still expecting babies sometime
Barn Owl                       Matt saw one leave the windmill before my alarm went off
BLACK SWIFT            At least a dozen, giving us great, close looks
Vaux’ Swift                    Almost as many as Blacks
Pac.-slope Flycatcher     One heard at Rowing Club pond
N. R.-winged Swallow   1-2 over slough above weir
Orange-cr. Warbler        Saw a couple, heard a couple more.
                                          Usually rare this time of year
Y.-rumped Warbler        One heard near mansion
Black-thr. Gray Warbler One heard at south end of Dog Meadow,
                                           then across the slough

Baby birds were noted for the following species: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, ?Common Merganser?, Great Blue Heron, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow (MANY), and Dark-eyed Junco. There may have been other species where we couldn’t tell the age of the birds.

For the day, 64 species.

== Michael Hobbs


Two Spotted Sandpipers near the weir.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

I would guess these are this year's young Common Mergansers.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Willow Flycatcher.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Willow Flycatcher. Note broad yellow-orange lower mandible.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Adult Bald Eagle.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Male Yellow Warbler.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Juvenile Dark-eyed Junco.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Adult and juvenile Canada Geese.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Male Black-headed Grosbeak.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Black-headed Grosbeak showing yellow and white wing lining.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Singing Swainson's Thrush.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Swainson's Thrush just taking flight.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Report for June 11, 2015                                                                                                                          Birding at Marymoor

Today was a good day at Marymoor, but a little unusual. Michael was only with us for a couple of hours before he had to leave to fly to Albuquerque. Matt and I finished up for him. We had several out of state visitors today – it was nice to show some really good birds to them.

Nice clear day and decent temperatures. Lots of birds singing, feeding young.

Barn Owl – Matt heard young early in windmill
Wood Duck – two separate females with young
Mallard – female with young
Great Blue Herons – lots of noise from the nests
Osprey – 2 at nest
Bald Eagle – 2 adults, 2 imm.
Cooper’s Hawk – nice imm. right over us in the Pea Patch
Spotted Sandpiper – 3
Purple Martin – 2 males, 2 females at gourds, heard earlier
Black-capped Chickadee – singing
Chestnut-backed Chickadee – feeding young – singing
Bushtit – singing
Marsh Wren – singing
Bewick’s Wren – singing
Golden-crowned Kinglet – singing
Swainson’s Thrush – many, singing
American Robin – many, singing
Orange-crowned Warbler – singing, unusually late
Spotted Towhee – singing
Savannah Sparrow- singing
White-crowned Sparrow – singing
Dark-eyed Junco – singing
Black-headed Grosbeak – singing
Lazuli Bunting – singing
Red-winged Blackbird – singing
Purple Finch – singing
American Goldfinch – singing

Bunny, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Beaver, bat

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA

Matt Bartels
Seattle WA

Report for June 12, 2014                                                                                                                     Birding at Marymoor

Didn't write a Tweeters post, since I was heading to the WOS conference. Not warm, cloudy but no Black Swifts.

Highlights:

Hooded Merganser           First since early May, second since March
American Coot                 One at lake; first since early May
Spotted Sandpiper            Two seen
Eurasian Collared-Dove    Third sighting of 2014; only 12 previous sightings
Hairy Woodpecker           But no Downy
Purple Martin                    Female in one of the gourds at Lake Platform
Wilson's Warbler              One heard at Rowing Club; rare this time of year

For the day, 57 species.

== Michael Hobbs


Juvenile Great Blue Heron.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Killdeer.  Photo by Hugh Jennings


Spotted Sandpiper.  Photo by Lillian Reis


First-year male Bullock's Oriole.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Western Wood-Pewee.  Photo by Lillian Reis


American Coot.  Photo by Hugh Jennings


Female Purple Martin.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Battling Willow Flycatchers...


...Two photos by Lillian Reis


Osprey.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Young Tree Swallow females can be very brown.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Male Black-headed Grosbeak.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Band-tailed Pigeon.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Male Anna's Hummingbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Two juvenile Bald Eagles.  Photo by Hugh Jennings


Savannah Sparrow.  Photo by Hugh Jennings


Male Brown-headed Cowbirds.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Garter Snake.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Yellow-faced Bumblebee.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Report for June 13, 2013                                                                                                                              Birding at Marymoor

Brian Bell & I led today's Marymoor walk in place of Michael Hobbs and had a good day. 11 participants joined for the day. Early on, the rains kicked up -- never too hard, but it took us by surprise and kept many of us soggy for the day. By the end of the walk, we had some blue skies and even an occasional shadow appearing.

Birds were showing signs of being well into summer season -- singing was down from previous weeks and the bird number [influenced by the weather too] were lower. We saw several young birds --baby Mallards, baby Wood Ducks, baby Common Mergansers, young Pine Siskins and young Great Blue Herons.

Notable sightings:

Great Blue Heron - it seemed that several of the nests in the heronry were empty -- some young herons still on the nest, but fewer than before, showing signs of [hopefully] fledging.

Purple Martin - a pair was at the gourds at the lake viewing platform - female on the crossbar, male in a gourd -- first time they've been there for us this year. Tree Swallows were still in one of the other adjacent gourds.

Hammond's Flycatcher - one heard and seen by some over at the Rowing Club -- seems late to have them around unless there's a nesting possibility in the area.

Bullock's Oriole - a pair in the heronry cottonwoods - probably a nest up there now.

Lazuli Bunting - one male out early by the soccer fields

Plenty of singing Black-headed Grosbeaks, Willow Flycatchers, Swainson's Thrush, and a smattering of Yellow Warblers & Warbling Vireos made up the main summer suite of birds.

Notable misses for the day would include : Hairy Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon, Black Swift [looked like a perfect day for them], only 2 Canada Geese.

59 species for the day, with nothing new for the year. Earlier this week though, Eastern and Western Kingbirds were seen at the park, adding to the year total.

Matt Bartels
Seattle, WA


Anna's Hummingbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

American Robin.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Gadwall.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Female Purple Martin at the nesting gourds.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Black-headed Grosbeak.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz
Female Lazuli Bunting.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Seventeen Band-tailed Pigeons.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz
Band-tailed Pigeons.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Band-tailed Pigeon in flight.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz
Male Bullock's Oriole.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Violet-green Swallow.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Violet-green Swallow.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Tree Swallow.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz
Violet-green Swallow.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Vaux's Swift.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz
Vaux's Swift.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Vaux's Swift.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz
Vaux's Swift.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Vaux's Swift.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz
Vaux's Swift.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Empidonax Flycatcher.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz
Empidonax Flycatcher.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Empidonax Flycatcher.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz
Empidonax Flycatcher.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Eastern Kingbird, 2013-06-12.  Photo by Lillian Reis
Savannah Sparrows,  2013-06-12.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Eastern Kingbird, 2013-06-10.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Male Brown-headed Cowbird, 2013-06-10.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Western Kingbird, 2013-06-09.  Photo by Lillian Reis
Western Kingbird, 2013-06-09.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Report for June 14, 2012                                                                                                                             Birding at Marymoor

The weather was much nicer today than last week - not too cold, not windy, overcast. And it was birdy, though several species were heard-only. Matt also had some great birds early (5 a.m.) that weren't seen later. The bird list was NOT a typical list for June.

Highlights:

SWANS                               5 swans flew by, presumably TRUMPETERs
Common Loon                      1 far out on the lake
Great Blue Heron                   Many large juveniles on the nests
Cooper's Hawk?                    Accipiter briefly seen - first seen in weeks
Caspian Tern                         5-6 overhead
Barn Owl                               Matt had a couple early, including juvenile
COMMON NIGHTHAWK  Matt saw one early from the lake platform
Black Swift                            5-6 overhead
Hairy Woodpecker                Adult and juvenile near start of boardwalk
Pacific-slope Flycatcher         One heard from across the slough
EASTERN KINGBIRD        One moving around, East Meadow etc.
LAZULI BUNTING              3-5 males, singing, chasing each other
Western Meadowlark             Three, Dog Meadow
Bullock's Oriole                      2 males seen

This was our first summer sighting of SWANS ever, and except for one sighting from May 1, 2008, all other sightings have been October-March.

Tony Ernst sent me a nice photo of a COMMON LOON that he'd taken on the 10th while kayaking at the north end of the lake. I was pleased we were able to see the loon too, though very distantly. There are two previous June records for the park. We've had Common Loon sightings at Marymoor in all months except July and September.

Matt's sighting of COMMON NIGHTHAWK was just the 6th for the park that I know of. All of the other sightings were from mid-September.

This was our 11th EASTERN KINGBIRD sighting. Almost all sightings EAKI have been from the middle two weeks of June.

Matt saw Mule Deer and Beaver early. We saw a Long-tailed Weasel, as well as numerous Eastern Cottontails, and Eastern Gray Squirrel.

For the day, 68 species. For the year, adding COMMON NIGHTHAWK and EASTERN KINGBIRD, I think we're up to 140 species.

== Michael Hobbs


Bullock's Oriole.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Bald Eagle.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Willow Flycatcher, singing, showing the large yellow bill.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Willow Flycatcher.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Brown Creeper.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Savannah Sparrow.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Eastern Kingbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Eastern Kingbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Lazuli Bunting.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Long-tailed Weasel.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Long-tailed Weasel.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Long-tailed Weasel.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Common Loon, 2012-06-10.  Photo by Tony Ernst
Swainson's Thrush, 2012-06-08.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Female Black-headed Grosbeak, 2012-06-08.  Photo by Lillian Reis
Three (3 ! ) Western Kingbirds, 2012-06-08.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Report for June 16, 2011                                                                                                                           Birding at Marymoor

We had a nice morning, though it was chilly for June. Really chilly. Migration seems to be pretty much over. Breeding season is well underway. And while we had few surprises, we had a really good day.

Highlights:

Wood Duck                      At lake + ducklings at RC
Mallard                             Ducklings as big as adults
Sharp-shinned Hawk         2 sightings, plus maybe Coop
Caspian Tern                     A few flew north early
Red-breasted Sapsucker   Great looks at Rowing Club
BLACK SWIFT               Two dozen or more overhead
American Crow                 Sounds of juvenile begging
Black-capped Chickadee   Fledged young being fed
American Robin                 Copulating. 2nd clutch?
Cedar Waxwing                 Berry passing near nest
Dark-eyed Junco               Juveniles chasing after adults
LAZULI BUNTING         Male singing in Dog Meadow
Bullock's Oriole                 At least 2 males, 1 first-year
Muskrat                            One at Rowing Club pond

For the day, 63 species.

== Michael Hobbs


Male Bullocks's Oriole.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Belted Kingfisher.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Tail of a Cedar Waxwing sticking up out of the nest.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Black Swifts.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Northern Flicker.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Lazuli Bunting.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Female Lazuli Bunting.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Red-eared Slider.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Bee at Comfrey flowers.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Swainson's Thrush, 2011-06-12.  Photo by Lillian Reis
Green Heron, 2011-06-12.  Photo by Kathryn Speirs

Report for June 17, 2010

A very nice day at Marymoor, despite the heavy overcast.  No precipitation, and not very much wind.  On the downside, sometimes a bit dim for good viewing, way too many mosquitoes near the lake, and so much fresh growth on the trees and shrubs that finding birds was somewhat tricky.  It's a jungle out there.

Highlights:

Green Heron                     A couple of looks
Caspian Tern                    1 flew south towards the lake
Western Screech-Owl       Matt heard 1 ridiculously early
Black Swift                       A dozen or two - 5th straight week
6 FLYCATCHER DAY   See below
Purple Martins                  Looking to be taking over a gourd
Wilson's Warbler              Heard one near windmill

Still no Red-eyed Vireo.

Flycatchers:  WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE; WILLOW FLYCATCHER; LEAST FLYCATCHER seen and heard just north of Dog Central, the dog swim area with the bulletin board; PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER heard near south end of the Dog Area; ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER found late at the north end of the East Meadow; EASTERN KINGBIRD in the East Meadow - Gene Hunn found 2 there later.

Here are the Marymoor records of the 3 rare flycatchers of the day:

Least Flycatcher                 05-Jun-1983
Ash-throated Flycatcher     07-Jun-2006 - 09-Jun-2006
Eastern Kingbird                07-Jun-2006 - 08-Jun-2006
Eastern Kingbird                11-Jun-1998
Eastern Kingbird                13-Jun-2001
Ash-throated Flycatcher     15-Jun-2005
Least Flycatcher                 17-Jun-2010
Ash-throated Flycatcher     17-Jun-2010
Eastern Kingbird                17-Jun-2010
Eastern Kingbird                18-Jun-2007
Ash-throated Flycatcher     19-Jun-2007
Least Flycatcher                 05-Jul-2007 - 19-Jul-2007 (sporatic)
Eastern Kingbird                 26-Aug-2008

So it's not at all unprecedented for these species to show up at the same time of year.  This was essentially the 3rd LEFL sighting, the 4th ATFL sighting, and the 6th EAKI sighting.

Quite a day.  68 species.  Caspian Tern and the 3 flycatchers were new for the year, which I believe brings our 2010 list up to 129 species.

== Michael


Common Yellowthroat male
Least Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Least Flycatcher.  Photo by Rick Hibpshman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crappywildlifephotography

Purple Martin pair at nest gourds
Swainson's Thrush

Eastern Kingbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Female Common Merganser atop park office chimney

American Crow.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Mushroom gills.  Photo by Hugh Jennings.

Ash-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher.  Photo by Rick Hibpshman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crappywildlifephotography

Report for June 11, 2009

Another summer day at Marymoor, though thankfully it was a bit overcast at the start, and the heat didn't get troublesome until we were nearly done.  The birds were mostly too busy, I think, to be posing for us, so there was a bit of frustration with the quick views we had of birds.  We had quite a few heard-only, several flybys, and a number of glimpses.

We were also, I'm afraid, rushing the walk just a bit, as several of us were eager to get to Snoqualmie to find the Indigo Bunting and Least Flycatcher. We shouldn't have worried, since those birds proved relatively easy to find. :)

Marymoor Highlights:

Wood Duck                    4 or 5 females with young, several sizes
Hooded Merganser         2+ unsupervised ducklings
Green Heron                   At least 4 chicks being fed at the nest
Bald Eagle                       3 newly fledged birds east of the boardwalk
Western Screech-Owl     Scott had one early near the windmill
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 flew past Compost Piles, 1 at Rowing Club
Belted Kingfisher             Several sightings - we haven't had many in 2009
Black Swift                     One appeared briefly over the slough
American Crow               Two dead babies under the nest tree :(
Bushtit                             Parent(s) feeding young near RC nest
Lazuli Bunting                  2-4 males, 1 female, lots of bad looks
Bullock's Oriole               Male in Big Cottonwood Forest

CEDAR WAXWINGS were everywhere.

The LAZULI BUNTINGS were singing, but mostly posing only when entirely back-lit.  This was actually pretty typical for the day - birds popping up backlit or at distance or both.  We had YELLOW WARBLER on a birch far across the river, for example.  And a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER hid amongst the CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES above the Barn Owl nest box, and only 2 people managed to glimpse the bird before it flew away.

We did manage 56 species for the day, though.

== Michael
One of two dead baby crows under the nest tree near the mansion

Mother Wood Duck with at least 8 babies

Band-tailed Pigeon
Savannah Sparrow singing in the East Meadow

American Crow with a facial tumor and an extended, hooked bill
Male Brown-headed Cowbird singing in the Community Gardens

Northern Flicker
Adult and one of the four baby Green Herons at the Rowing Club nest

Dick Martin caught a Swainson's Thrush in good light, June 12
Brian Dobbin's wonderful photo of a male American Goldfinch, June 13

Brian Dobbin's photo of the Green Heron chicks at the Rowing Club
Another photo from Brian, both taken June 13
Lillian Reis found baby Killdeer in the stormwater pond near the velodrome parking lot
on June 14

Report for June 12, 2008

I had to remind people that the weather was actually good, not bad.  They were complaining about cold.  In Garfield County on Tuesday, I had cold.  24 degrees, howling wind, and snow. Yeah, yeah, I was at 5500 ft., but still...  Eastern WA was windy for six of the seven days I was over there.  Today at Marymoor was blessedly windless, and I think the temperature got to about 60 at one point.  Sure it wasn't a nice sunny day, but picky picky picky...

Mammals highlighted the day.  First, we had a LONG-TAILED WEASEL going after a bunny (until it saw us) just south of the Dog Area.  Then, at the lake platform, we watched a RACCOON swim out about 100 yards underneath the new dock (for the new development).  It was swimming directly under the jetty portion, between the pylons, all the way to the floating platform where it swam around and dove for a minute before swimming all the way back. Bizarre.  Then, along the southeast portion of the East Meadow there were two more LONG-TAILED WEASELS, one of which had spots or brindling on its back - this year's young?  Along the main road just north of the compost piles, someone spotted a TOWNSEND'S MOLE running along the base of the curb, unable to get up and away.  Alexia and Georgia rushed over to rescue it.When they got it onto the grass, it immediately burrowed underground, causing worms to flee in wormy terror.  Finally, at the Rowing Club, we had yet a fourth LTWE.  Lots of Eastern Cottontails and Eastern Gray Squirrels rounded out the mammal list.  There were Red-eared Slider and Painted Turtles at the Rowing Club, and hoards of nasty, biting MOSQUITOES, especially south of the Dog Area on both approaches to the boardwalk.

Now for birds:

Black Swift                        20+ over the park all morning
WESTERN KINGBIRD   Flycatching along Snag Row
Warbling Vireo                  *Vireo invisibilis* singing grandly
Red-eyed Vireo                 Mosquitos kept us from even thinking of trying to see it.
Swainson's Thrush             Singing AND giving us good looks
Lazuli Bunting                    Singing from north of fields 7-8-9
Bullock's Oriole                 1-2 first-year males being pretty obvious

Nesting highlights:

Canada Goose                    Goslings almost fully feathered
Wood Duck                        Several females w/ducklings of a range of sizes
Mallard                                Several females with fairly large young
Green Heron                       On nest at Rowing Club
Red-brested Sapsucker       Nest hole with young in the Cottonwood Forest
Western Wood-Pewee        Building nest just south of Dog Area
Tree Swallow                      Nesting in natural cavity as well as many boxes
Black-capped Chickadee    Feeding fledged young at the Rowing Club
Bushtit                                 Nest found
Cedar Waxwing                  Found a nest being built

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few. Lots of spotted young robins already on their own.  No activity seen at either the Cooper's Hawk nest or the Bald Eagle nest.  I didn't really check the Red-tailed Hawk or Osprey nests, though the latter is likely still active.

We also found a dead VAUX'S SWIFT that appeared to have tried to roost about one foot off the ground, nestled into a deep groove in the bark of a large Douglas Fir.  It looked like it may have gone to sleep and expired from exposure/starvation perhaps.  No sign of trauma.

For the day, 61 species.

== Michael


Ollie Oliver's photo of a Western Wood-Pewee on a nest south of the Dog Area

Ollie's photo of a Marsh Wren near the lake

Ollie's photo of a Black Swift


Moth at the Rowing Club


Everybody was tired by the end of the morning


Wood Duck family across from the Rowing Club dock


Green Heron on the nest

Report for June 14, 2007

Eleven of us had a nice stroll through Marymoor this morning under cloudy skies.  It was moderately birdy, and we managed some pretty good looks at birds (as well as a few heard-only ones)

Highlights:

BONAPARTE'S GULL        One well out on the lake
Red-breasted Sapsucker       Many good looks
Hairy Woodpecker                A couple of looks - male
Western Wood-Pewee          Still on the nest
BLACK SWIFT                   About a dozen over the south end
Red-eyed Vireo                     2+ birds, one seen
Cliff Swallow                         Ubiquitous
Yellow-rumped Warbler        At least 1 male Audubon's - unusual at this season
Black-headed Grosbeak        Many singing males
Lazuli Bunting                        At least 1 male singing near the Interpretive Lot

The BONAPARTE'S GULL was far out on the lake, sitting on buoys, and gave us a real ID challenge.  At various times it was called a Spotted Sandpiper, Yellowlegs, Common Tern, and Black Tern, none of which were actually seen. Finally we got it to gull, and later to "probably" Bonaparte's.  I was able to view it from the cabana at the end of the morning, and was able to confirm the ID.

For the day, 61 species.  For the year, we're up to 133 species.

== Michael


Cedar Waxwing


 The best look we had of the Bonaparte's Gull from the Lake Platform.
Confirming view of the Bonaparte's.

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