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Bird Sightings Week 29
July 16-22*

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...Sora

• Hooded Merganser - Two at Rowing Club pond; first since early April
• Band-tailed Pigeon - Two big flocks totaling at least 30
• Spotted Sandpiper - One at weir - First since late May
• Belted Kingfisher - Three chasing each other around, same as last week
• American Goldfinch - Male seen feeding a chick
• Yellow Warbler - Female feeding baby cowbird :(
• Black-throated Gray Warbler - One or more along west edge of Dog Meadow - Several sightings
• Western Tanager - Adult male, west edge of Dog Meadow

• Eastern Cottontail - At least a dozen seen, many quite small
• Bobcat - Tony saw one pre-dawn
• Black-tailed Deer - Two below the weir
• Garter snake sp. - Only our 2nd sighting this year
• Eight-spotted Skimmer - Several

   

"Black-tailed" Mule Deer. Photo by Tony Ernst

Adult Spotted Sandpiper. Photo by Tony Ernst

   

Female Wood Duck with ducklings. Photo by Tony Ernst

   

Male Western Tanager. Photo by Tony Ernst

• Caspian Tern - One fishing on the lake appeared to be a juvenile
• Great Blue Heron - Fewer than 10 occupied nests, and not that many birds seen foraging at the park
• Green Heron - Two present, and heard them call about 4 times.  Slough below the weir, and later from the Lake Platform
• OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - Scott got a good recording of a song from across the slough.  Unseen, but unmistakable Quick Three Beers
• Purple Martin - Appear to be active still at both the gourds and in the snags west of the slough
• Black-throated Gray Warbler - Adult feeding a juvenile along Dog Meadow edge
• Western Tanager - Adult male, southwest edge of Dog Meadow

We’re definitely seeing shifts in bird populations, such as large flocks of European Starlings and House Finches, and a large drop in the numbers of Great Blue Herons. In general, we found fewer birds, less singing, and few good views today. Many species were only glimpsed, with some just barely heard. Swainson’s Thrush and Willow Flycatcher were both present in pretty good numbers still, but both were doing more whits than songs, and neither species was seen.

Highlights:

• Wood Duck – again, at least one clutch of tiny ducklings – every week there’re more
• BLACK SWIFT – three or four overhead briefly, but close
• Rufous Hummingbird – only one, a juvenile at the Pea Patch
• Killdeer – adult with two chicks below weir
• Spotted Sandpiper – adult near two chicks below the weir
• Great Blue Heron – heronry empty or nearly empty; birds dispersed
• Cooper’s Hawk – one aggressively chased an adult Bald Eagle – nesting nearby?
• Barn Owl – Matt heard juvenile in windmill very early, again
• Western Screech-Owl – two heard, adult seen, early
• Tree Swallow – only one seen, but entering a nest box in East Meadow
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow – one over fields 7-8-9
• BANK SWALLOW – at least two over fields 7-8-9
• Savannah Sparrow – at least a few juveniles
• White-crowned Sparrow – at least 2 young-looking juveniles
• BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER – one seen 1500 feet downstream of weir along slough
• Yellow Warbler – one made a couple of half-hearted songs, unseen
• Western Tanager – adult male East Meadow south end, another singing near windmill
• Black-headed Grosbeak – only one seen, another heard
• LAZULI BUNTING – male north of fields 7-8-9; probably will leave soon

Critters seen included dozens of Eastern Cottontails, Matt had a Mule Deer, and a few of us spotted a LONG-TAILED WEASEL at the north end of the East Meadow.

Misses today included Rock Pigeon, Green Heron, Warbling Vireo, Cliff Swallow, and Marsh Wren.

For the day, 61 species. Bank Swallow was new for 2018 for us, but has been previously reported on eBird this year.

== Michael Hobbs

Adult Cedar Waxwing.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Juvenile Great Blue Heron.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Juvenile Great Blue Heron.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Barn Swallows.  Leftmost is adult, Rightmost is juvenile (see yellow gape). Probably Adult Juv. Juv. Adult Juv., left-to-right.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Male Lazuli Bunting.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Highlights:

• Rufous Hummingbird – two at south end of Dog Meadow, after zero last 2 weeks
• Spotted Sandpiper – at least 1 adult, at least 2 babies, at weir
• Great Blue Heron – could only see 2-3 still-active nests in the heronry
• Osprey – especially numerous; young may have fledged from both nearby nests
• Cooper’s Hawk – Dog meadow, caught *something* that was approximately robin-sized
• Barn Owl – As late as 5:10 in the East Meadow
• WESTERN SCREECH-OWL – baby just SE of East Footbridge!
• Hairy Woodpecker – flew across Dog Meadow
• MERLIN – flew low over boardwalk, causing consternation amongst swallows
• BANK SWALLOW – one from Lake Platform

Brian and I found the WESTERN SCREECH-OWL at 4:30 a.m.in precisely one of the places adult Screech were frequently seen this spring (near the old “willow” interpretive sign). It was fledged, but still in juvenile plumage, very similar to this photo from Paws:
http://paws-seattle.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a5ed5e54970b01a511ee1bd9970c-pi  I believe this makes the baby somewhere in the 4-6 week-old range. We did not see an adult nearby, but as it was still very dark, there may well have been one. Given that we had a pair of adult Screech-Owls well into May, and now (at a date just perfect for incubation+fledging) we have a juvenile, it appears highly likely that they nested in that immediate area!

At the Lake Platform, we stood around for AT LEAST 10 minutes, with no sign of any PURPLE MARTINS. Then, just as we were about to leave, two emerged from the gourd(s), surprising us all.

The really notable thing today was all of the species we didn’t find, or where the numbers were WAY down from last week. We had only a single WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, and that was heard-only. Misses included Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch (might have heard one), Yellow Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler (or indeed any warbler besides Common Yellowthroat), Black-headed Grosbeak !!!, Lazuli Bunting, and Brown-headed Cowbird.

On the mammal front, Brian and I had myotis sp. bats from the boardwalk.

For the day, just 54 species.

== Michael Hobbs

Western Screech-Owl, juvenile plumage - 5 to 8 weeks old perhaps? Overall very gray. Fine, dense, medium-gray horizontal barring on frontside, darker crown. Did not appear to have fuzzy down on head, so not real, real young.
Cellphone photo by Michael Hobbs

Spotted Sandpiper at the weir (about 3 pixels near the far side)  :)
Photo by Bob Asanoma
 

Hooded Merganser at the Rowing Club pond.  Photo by Joanne Iskierka

Female Mallard and babies at the Rowing Club pond.  Photo by Joanne Iskierka

Muskrat at the Rowing Club pond.  Photo by Joanne Iskierka

Fairly young Red-eared Slider at the Rowing Club pond.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Highlights:

Wood Duck                        Two clutches of ducklings
Mallard                               Female with tiny ducklings at lake. 2nd clutch?
Great Blue Heron                Still at least 1 baby on nest
Green Heron                       At least 3, 2 adults, 1 subadult
Cooper’s Hawk                  Juvenile and adult seen
Spotted Sandpiper              1 adult, 2 juveniles below weir: breeding confirmation| GR. YELLOWLEGS         1 called twice – First of Year
CASPIAN TERN              Twice had single birds flying downslough – FOY
- all 5 woodpeckers -        
Tree Swallow                      Female at Lake Platform gourd nest|
Orange-crowned Warbler    First of Fall, one along west edge of Dog Meadow
Yellow-rumped Warbler      Might be nesting east of mansion
Bl.-throated Gray Warbler   5-6 along west edge of Dog Meadow, most juv.
Spotted Towhee                  Many juvs., also adult feeding cowbird :(
Western Tanager                 2 different adult males
Bullock’s Oriole                  2 heard
EVENING GROSBEAK    Flock of 10 over Dog Meadow – FOF

At the Rowing Club, we had 2 adult GREEN HERONS at the pond, and between the pond and the row house, we had a large family flock of BUSHTITS. The baby bushtits crammed all along one branch in a chain of at least 10 babies, all touching. Parents were coming in and feeding. Even Matt said we could call them “cute”.

Non-birds included pre-dawn COYOTE, lots of bunnies, one AMERICAN BEAVER, and a good number of GARTER SNAKES. 8-spotted skimmer dragonflies were all around and over the Rowing Club ponds and the slough.

Misses for the day included Pied-billed Grebe, Rock Pigeon, Yellow Warbler, and Red-winged Blackbird. Even so, we managed to find 64 species. Adding GREATER YELLOWLEGS and CASPIAN TERN gets us to 136 species for the year, I believe.

== Michael Hobbs

Moonshot by Hugh Jennings
Sunrise with ground fog.  Photo by Michael Hobbs

Highlights:

Canada Goose                            Actually saw one this week :)
Great Blue Heron                        Almost all the nests empty
Green Heron                               2 sightings – same juvenile both times?
MERLIN                                    Caused quite the uproar amongst swallows
Purple Martin                              Next exchanges at Lake Platform gourd
Tree Swallow                              Still active at 1 nest; overall, very few
Violet-green Swallow                  Close to 100
Barn Swallow                             Close to 100
Yellow-rumped Warbler             Extremely drab juvenile
Black-throated Gray Warbler      1-2
Lazuli Bunting                              2-3 juveniles near Compost Piles, early

I also saw a MINK on the far shore of the slough, a bit above the weir.

For the week, 59 species.

== Michael Hobbs

Osprey.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Black-capped Chickadee finding ripe Himalayan Blackberries, 2015-07-14.
Photo by Lillian Reis

Highlights:

Great Blue Heron           Seem to have finished nesting; fencing already removed
Spotted Sandpiper         One at the weir
- gull sp. -                      One bird early, with black wing-tips. Ring-billed?
Caspian Tern                 Quick glimpse of 1 bird flying north over slough
Rufous Hummingbird      Still at least 3; should tail off through August
Pacific-slope Flycatcher One at south end of Dog Meadow, silent
Or.-crowned Warbler?   Juvenile warbler(s) gave us many terrible looks
Yellow-rumped Warbler At least 2
Black-thr. Gray Warbler At least 3, near PSFL and the questionable warbler(s)
Wilson’s Warbler           1-2, also with flock at south end of Dog Meadow

The mixed flock at the south end of the Dog Meadow was the highlight of the day. Great look at the Pacific-slope Flycatcher and then it disappeared, leaving us with BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS. We were following these north along the west edge of the meadow and found the WILSON’S WARBLER(s) and the mystery warbler(s). Many birds were present, and it was a real challenge to stay on any one bird. Things got way worse when the warbler/chickadee flock merged with a flock of BUSHTITS and headed back south. Now there were twice as many really active birds birds.

Our mystery warbler(s) never gave us more than partial looks. At various times, I saw white undertail coverts; wings with either wing-bars or at least some feathers with white edges; yellow wash over the head, throat, and breast; plain greenish wings (hence my belief that there was more than one bird); a grayish head; a yellowish head; a thickish, longish, blackish warbler bill; kind-of-maybe-an-eye-line. None of the views of this presumed hatch-year bird looked right for Yellow nor for Wilson’s. Sometimes the plumage looked right for Tennessee, but the bill and body looked too big. Our last look seemed really good for Orange-crowned Warbler, except for the whitish undertail coverts. Dang birds.

Ollie went back after the walk to try and refind the bird, but found no flock at all. His only consolation prize was a COMMON MERGANSER (rare for this time of year at Marymoor) which, along with my lone ROCK PIGEON under SR-520 as I left, brought our day total to 61 species. I believe we’re still at 139 for 2014.

Our best other sighting was a LONG-TAILED WEASEL which popped out repeatedly while we were busy looking at the warbler flock!

== Michael Hobbs

Killdeer.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Willow Flycatcher.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Black-throated Gray Warbler.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Wilson's Warbler.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Wilson's Warbler.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Black-throated Gray Warbler.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Bushtit.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Long-tailed Weasel.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Long-tailed Weasel.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Rufous Hummingbird.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Ollie Oliver found one heron still in the heronry.
Might be a fledged bird returning to a familiar place of safety.

Spotted Sandpiper and female Common Merganser.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Spotted Sandpiper at weir.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

A newly emerged Blue Dasher dragonfly landed on Matt's jacket, at the Lake Platform.
Photo by Ollie Oliver

Eight-spotted Skimmer, 2014-07-14.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Mature male Blue Dasher dragonfly, 2014-07-14.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Red-eared Slider, 2014-07-14.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

60 degrees and overcast? July, huh? Meh. It did NOT feel like summer.  Still we had a pretty nice walk around the park.

At the lake platform, we could find no eagles, but did see an OSPREY carrying a fish back towards the nest (where 3 young were awaiting breakfast). Suddenly, two adult BALD EAGLES appeared. The osprey had at least a 100 yard lead, but the fish must have been pretty heavy. It took only about 20 seconds for the eagles to overtake the osprey. The first eagle appeared to fly under and in front of the osprey, while the second trailed below and just behind the osprey. Realizing he was surrounded, the osprey dropped the fish. The trailing eagle smoothly rotated feet-up and snagged the fish.

Later, we saw the two adult eagles sitting side by side in a tall cottonwood, one vocalizing loudly. They may already have eaten the fish by that point.

When we were at the Viewing Mound, an adult Bald Eagle flew very low over the mound and then swooped to the ground, grabbing a large clump of dried weeds, which it carried off (presumably for nesting material ?!?!?) The weeds must have been heavy and caused a lot of drag, for the eagle flew low and ponderously over the Dog Meadow. An osprey then flew fast across the meadow and took a swipe at the eagle, causing it to drop its weeds! What goes around comes around.

Other highlights:

Great Blue Heron        Heronry is empty.
                                   Heron numbers down from 20 to about ~4
Virginia Rail                Two heard from far side of slough near lake
Caspian Tern              Two flew down high over the river
Cooper’s Hawk          Immature at Compost Piles
Rufous Hummingbird   Female and/or immature at Pea Patch
MERLIN                    Annoyed the swallows over the East and Dog Meadows
N. R-winged Swallow Probably 2 or more

For mammals, we had several MUSKRAT and a LONG-TAILED WEASEL

For the day, 57 species.

== Michael Hobbs

Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Marsh Wrens.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

We had nice weather, but it was very quiet today at Marymoor. A few species were singing constantly: Willow Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Bewick's and Marsh Wrens, Swainson's Thrush, and Common Yellowthroat, but there wasn't a whole lot else. Even those species were not very easy to see. Still, we walked the loop slowly and carefully, and managed to find some birds.

Highlights:

Canada Goose                   Flight lessons for young birds
Cooper's Hawk                 Only our 2nd since April. With prey.
Barn Owl                           Matt had 4-5, including babies near the windmill, early
Cassin's Vireo                    One singing, near dog swim beach 3
N. Rough-winged Swallow 1-2 near grass soccer fields
Brewer's Blackbird             1 female on grass soccer fields
American Beaver                1 in slough at swim beach 3

The CANADA GEESE were learning to do the over-and-back half barrel roll used to "dump air", allowing a quick drop in altitude. This was a family-sized group, and there was no particular reason to be using that flight technique where they were flying, which was fairly low over the weir.

We had both WARBLING VIREO and YELLOW WARBLER feeding BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS.

For the day, 56 species. BREWER'S BLACKBIRD appears to be new for our 2012 list.

== Michael Hobbs

Canada Geese, and a Great Blue Heron.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Yellow Warbler.  Photo by Lillian Reis

I usually try to start our walks soon after sunrise. I was pushing things a bit by starting this morning a few minutes before the 5:33 a.m. official sunrise. It didn't really matter. It was dark before sunrise. It was dark long after sunrise. Heavy overcast, quite a bit of mist, mizzle, drizzle, and a little bit of almost rain this morning. Birds were hard to see, and there wasn't much singing. There were lots of awkward-looking juveniles about, and quite a few fledglings begging for food. But by the end of the morning, we had the largest species count we've had since early June. Go figure.

Highlights:

Green Heron                        Several sightings
MERLIN                             Matt saw one dart across the grass soccer fields
Caspian Tern                       Four flew down to the lake
Black Swift                          Three briefly seen during a moment without rain
Hairy Woodpecker              Male near last dog swim beach
Purple Martin                       One in right gourd at lake platform
Orange-crowned Warbler    One along Snag Row - juvenile?
Bullock's Oriole                    3-5, adult male(s?), adult female, juvenile(s?)
Pine Siskin                           Heard over mansion area

For the day, 63 species, though the numbers for each species were often pretty low.

== Michael Hobbs

Male Downy Woodpecker.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
 

It was cold, with heavy overcast, breezy, and at times misty at Marymoor this morning.  Add in the late-summer blahs, and it wasn't our most exciting day at the park.

• Matt heard the WESTERN SCREECH-OWL near the windmill at about 4:10 a.m.  I didn't hear my alarm clock until 4:45 a.m., so I can't confirm.
   

• Lots of WOOD DUCK babies, in a variety of sizes.
   

• We had 1 or 2 juvenile RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS.  One was getting red on the face, but the rest of the head was still dark gray.
   

• The Least Flycatcher was not heard this morning.  Maybe he only sings on sunny days.
   

• Still lots of WILLOW FLYCATCHER and SWAINSON'S THRUSH singing.  BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK numbers are way down, though.  We had a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER near the barns.
   

• There were many juvenile (and a few adult) WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS in the Pea Patch, along with many ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS and HOUSE FINCHES.
   

• At the end of the morning, we had a tight, swirling flock of small gulls that looked to me to be MEW GULL, but that could not be confirmed, as they rose up and disappeared into the clouds.

For the day, 56 species were noted.  It was a group effort (translation: several species were seen only by 1-2 people).

== Michael

"Feed me Seymour".  Juvenile Cedar Waxwing, begging.  Photo by Lillian Reis

"Faster".  Photo by Lillian Reis

It was a really nice summer day.  Unfortunately, I had to leave after only 2 hours to take my son to the airport, so Brian Bell compiled the list for the day.

Highlights:

The male RING-NECKED PHEASANT was seen early on the grass fields, and heard later.

We had one CALIFORNIA GULL fly down the slough at about 6:00 a.m.

We had our first-ever July sighting of PILEATED WOODPECKER, calling and seen flying west of the park.

Sharon Aagaard found a juvenile BARN OWL in the maple tree next to the nest box, straight above the path.  The rest of us had given up on finding one.  It appears that only a single baby was fledged this year from the nest box.

BROWN CREEPER was heard singing; later, a family with adult and juveniles was seen.

At least one LAZULI BUNTING was still singing near the Compost Piles.

BULLOCK'S ORIOLE:  Brian noted "2 or 3 males, female, several young being fed, including one without a tail"

For the day, I think 56 species.

== Michael

It was chilly, a touch breezy, and more overcast than I was expecting this morning.  We're in the doldrums - nothing unusual expected or found - but the park still has it's attractions.  We had a really good day.

The first highlight were three RIVER OTTERS actively fishing (or crawfishing perhaps) in the slough above the weir.  They gave a great show.

We had a STELLER'S JAY already going after the very green Hazelnuts

One CASPIAN TERN was over the lake

Nice looks at a RED-EYED VIREO north of the east end of the boardwalk

And then there were the babies:

Wood Duck                      3 clutches of ducklings
Green Heron                     5 fledged young at Rowing Club with adult
Osprey                              2 babies on nest
Cooper's Hawk                 3 babies and adult
Red-tailed Hawk               Watched a very awkward landing!
Warbling Vireo                  Baby being fed at Rowing Club
American Crow                 Lots of begging, and parents feeding young
Tree Swallow                    Babies audible within left gourd at lake
Violet-green Swallow        Adult feeding baby near windmill
Barn Swallow                    Adults feeding young at lake
Black-capped Chickadee  Adult feeding young along slough
Cedar Waxwing                Nest with 2 young at S. end of dog area
White-crowed Sparrow     Two still in juvenal plumage at Compost Piles
Brown.-headed Cowbird   Fed by Yellow Warbler and Warbling Vireo
House Finch                      100+ birds, many looking young
American Goldfinch           Male feeding baby along slough

The COOPER'S HAWK nest lay on the ground under the tree it was in.  The three babies were in the trees nearby, two together and a third a little apart.  An adult was seen leaving the scene.

The five fledged GREEN HERONS were at the main pond at the Rowing Club, flying (and especially landing) awkwardly.  One was thinking about trying to fish, but was working from a branch too high above the water.  The rest seemed willing to wait for Mom or Dad to deliver.  An adult did arrive and was mobbed.

== Michael

River Otters just above the weir

All three River Otter.   Notice rounded pointy tail of the one on the left.

Two Cedar Waxwings on the nest at the south end of the Dog Meadow

Steller's Jay going after unripe hazelnuts

Blurry shot, but you can see the hazelnut

Eight of us enjoyed a pleasant and interesting morning at Marymoor. As we move into the post-breeding period, a few new things are moving in/through.  The weather was overcast, but clearing (no rain, no wind).

Highlights:

Green Heron                            Multiple sightings, at least 2 adults
GREATER YELLOWLEGS    Flyby, with kingfishers.  Only 3rd ever.
Mourning Dove                        1st of 2007, in Snag Row
Belted Kingfisher                      At least 3, seen together
WILSON'S WARBLER          First of fall, several

At about 5:45 a.m., to BELTED KINGFISHERS flew north over the South Lot.  A third bird flying with them looked slightly different - pointed wings, a thinner bill, trailing legs - Just as I got on it, it gave the tew-tew-tew call of a GREATER YELLOWLEGS.  In a weird deja vu moment, five hours later, as we came back through the South Lot, three birds flew north.  This time, all three were kingfishers.

Lots and lots of babies of just about everything.  Trees dripping with young  VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS.  Ducklings (MALLARD, WOODIE, HOODIE), Goslings, wrens, finches, etc.  Young warblers were a bit of a challenge to ID - certainly several COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, at least one YELLOW WARBLER, maybe a WILSON'S...

Anyway, a good day.  For the day, including the LEAST FLYCATCHER (see below), 61 species.  The Mourning Dove and the Greater Yellowlegs were new for 2007.

== Michael

Today [2007-07-19] we couldn't do the early morning walk but we got out there later and did an abbreviated version of it. we found the LEAST FLYCATCHER calling at the compost mounds in a large willow (?) tree surrounded by blackberries. he was doing his "chebeck" call quite a bit so he should not be to hard to find. we last saw him at about 11:50.

Brendan Higgins, Seattle WA

Adult Green Heron near creek mouth south of weir.

Green Heron in an alder along the slough.

Mourning Dove in Snag Row just north of the Pea Patch

Juvenile Barn Swallow in Pea Patch.  Note visible, fleshy gape.

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Bird Sightings Week 29
July 16-22*      *adjust by 1 day in leap years

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