Marymoor Bird Blog

Friends of Marymoor Park

Recent Bird Sightings

Report for January 16, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

It was rather gray and damp today, but no real precipitation until a bit of mizzle at the Rowing Club. A touch of breeze made it a little chilly, but temps were 37-41, so not exactly cold. It was pretty birdy at times, and pretty interesting.

Highlights:

Virginia Rail - Three responded from across the slough, two more when we clapped on the boardwalk
Ring-billed Gull - At least one in the huge flock of Short-billed Gulls, First of Year (FOY)
Great Blue Heron - At least 17; numbers are growing
Hairy Woodpecker - Several sightings, pretty sure at least 2 birds
Merlin - Mason saw one near the Pea Patch and mansion when he left a bit early (FOY)
Northern Shrike - Seen several times, both west of the slough and in the East Meadow
California Scrub-Jay - Two remain steadfast near the east maintenance buildings
"Eastern" Song Sparrow - We finally got views, though only of the rear, of this bird. Very striking. West edge of East Meadow
Western Meadowlark - 7-8 at the Model Airplane Field (FOY)

Pre-dawn, I heard an owl, though I couldn't tell if it were Western Screech-Owl or Northern Saw-whet Owl. Soon after, I saw an owl that was too big for NSWO, though I'm not sure if it were the same owl I'd heard. My inclination is to believe both were Screeches, and probably the same bird, but I really can't say.

We did not see any AMERICAN TREE SPARROW today, but another birder reported seeing it twice, near the Eastside Audubon sheds in the East Meadow.

Misses today included American Wigeon, Common Goldeneye (may have had a flyover), Hooded Merganser, Anna's Hummingbird, American Coot, and Purple Finch.

For the day, 53 species (including the owl sp.), with three new for the year, bringing us to 60 species so far in 2025.

= Michael Hobbs

"Eastern" subspecies Song Sparrow. Photo by Jordan Roderick

Report for January 9, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

Our ridiculously fine weather continues. Today's low was 41, and by the end it was 47 and sunny with no wind. Yikes! It was birdy too, at least here and there.

Highlights:

Green-winged Teal - Lone drake at the Rowing Club pond, first in 5 weeks, and only the 8th since last spring. First of Year (FOY)
Hooded Merganser - Pair in the slough near the start of the boardwalk (FOY)
Virginia Rail - Two responded from the far side of the slough (FOY)
Killdeer - Heard by Matt, flying over the East Meadow pre-dawn. First since October (FOY)
Cooper's Hawk - One near the concert stage, mobbed by a couple of crows (FOY)
Short-eared Owl - Model Airplane Field, about 7:30 a.m. (FOY)
Northern Shrike - Juvenile, again on the far side of slough. Report also from East Meadow (FOY)
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW - Not just one, but TWO together, East Meadow, first since 2023 (FOY)
Lincoln's Sparrow - Same flock as the American Tree Sparrow (FOY)

I just happened to check my phone, and saw that John Puschock had found an American Tree Sparrow along the upper west portion of the East Meadow. We did a bit of willy-nilly navigation straight there, only to find TWO of them in the same bush at the same time, about 2 feet apart. I believe this is the 13th record for ATSP at the park. John had been searching for the "Eastern" subspecies Song Sparrow that has been in that same area recently; I heard he saw it later, we did not.

There was a flock of 120-140 SHORT-BILLED GULLS, but they were always too far away for us to search through them for a Ring-billed or other gull.

Besides geese and gulls and crows, the most numerous birds today were AMERICAN ROBINS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS.

A late scan of the lake turned up four HORNED GREBE just off the Marymoor south shore (FOY). I then returned to the park and found the two CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAYS that have been hanging out near the East Entrance (FOY)

Misses today included Ring-necked Duck, American Coot, Ring-billed Gull, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, and Purple Finch.

For the day, 53 species, with 11 new for the year, to bring us to 57 species for 2025.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for January 2, 2025 Birding at Marymoor

Our first survey of the year was typical of this winter's surveys. The weather was better than expected (only a few short mizzle showers), and the birding was a little disappointing.

Highlights:

Greater White-fronted Goose - Six in Lot K, with Canadas
Cackling Goose - Flock of ~2000 landed and stayed on the grass soccer fields
Anna's Hummingbird - Singing and displaying
Bewick's Wren - Several singing

Overall, singing and quasi-singing is picking up.

Misses today included Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser (never missed before in the 1st week of January), American Coot, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Cooper's Hawk, and Bushtit.

Despite that long list of misses, we still managed 46 First of Year (FOY) birds.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for December 26, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

Our Boxing Day survey, and our last survey for 2024, was not as bad as expected. The wind and rain were less severe than the forecast, and there were even stretches without either. It was, however, VERY dark for the first hour. Not terribly birdy, but there were a couple of surprises.

Highlights:

Western Grebe - Two seen well from the Lake Platform
Red-breasted Sapsucker - One at the Rowing Club; first in 7 weeks
Merlin - TWO streaked across the Dog Meadow, one right after the other
Northern Shrike - One in the East Meadow
TREE SWALLOW - One seen flying near the Lake Platform. White-bellied, and we were able to see it long enough to rule out Violet-green

We have never had a fall or winter TREE SWALLOW before, though places like Nisqually have reports every few years. The only swallows we've ever had November-February have been Barn Swallow a few times. Today's swallow was a huge surprise, except that the weather has been so warm there are still bugs flying.

Only one time previously have we had two MERLIN together, on 26-Sep-2002. Only two other times have we had multiple sightings that plausibly could have indicated two birds. The other 299 times have been solos. Just before today's Merlins, two adult RED-TAILED HAWKS were circling over the Dog Meadow, and then a BALD EAGLE cruised past.

Misses today were numerous: Cackling Goose (indeed, we only had 2 or maybe a few Canadas), Green-winged Teal, American Coot, Wilson's Snipe, Ring-billed Gull, Cooper's Hawk, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird.

We did manage 47 species, though, which didn't seem too bad.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for December 19, 2024 Birding at Marymoor

Ridiculously nice weather today, with temps in the high 40's and HITTING 50! High overcast, and only a little mizzle now and then. No wind or fog. How can this be the weather in late December? It was a pleasant day, with a couple of surprises.

Highlights:

Canvasback - Male seen out from the Lake Platform; First in over two years (FOY)
Horned Grebe - Two seen from Lake Platform
Four Woodpeckers - Including a heard-only Pileated Woodpecker at the Rowing Club
Northern Shrike - Seen at two different locations looking across the slough
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE - Probably the same individual seen in November, high in a tree west of the mansion

As I left the park, I saw our only RED-TAILED HAWK, and was able to locate the two CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAYS that seem resident near the eastern maintenance building near the park's east entrance.

Mammals were also around, including AMERICAN BEAVER and COYOTE pre-dawn, and two RIVER OTTERS seen from the Lake Platform.

Misses today included Green-winged Teal, American Coot, Cooper's Hawk, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch (might have heard), and Lincoln's Sparrow.

For the day, 57 species.

= Michael Hobbs

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