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Friends of Marymoor Park
Recent Bird Sightings
Report for March 19, 2026 Birding at Marymoor
It was very rainy until about 9:30 this morning, when we had a bit of clearing. By that time, we were all soaked and a bit discouraged. But there were birds to see today.
Highlights:
- American Wigeon - One below the weir was first in 4 weeks
- Rufous Hummingbird - This time everyone got to see the male at the south end of the Dog Meadow
- Sharp-shinned Hawk - In large cottonwood a bit south of the East Meadow. First of Year (FOY)
- Cooper's Hawk - One in the Pea Patch
- Merlin - One flew east of the East Meadow
- Northern Shrike - One between the East Meadow and the model airplane field
- Tree Swallow - Many
- Violet-green Swallow - Hundreds, (FOY)
- Varied Thrush - One singing immediately south of Fields 7-8-9 in Snag Row
- White-throated Sparrow - FOUR TOGETHER along slough trail near the south end of the Dog Area
- Western Meadowlark - At least one, singing, East Meadow
Misses today included Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Marsh Wren, Pine Siskin, and Savannah Sparrow.
For the day, we totalled 59 species. Adding SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, the 2026 survey list is now at 79 species.
= Michael Hobbs |
Report for March 12, 2026 Birding at Marymoor
The night's high winds pretty much let up by 6:00 a.m., and we had no precipitation and temps comfortably in the mid-40's. What we didn't have was light. Thick, thick overcast kept the park almost too dark to bird at all for much of the morning. And, with a few exceptions, the birds seemed to have stayed in bed. Sensible of them.
AMERICAN CROWS and AMERICAN ROBINS were plentiful, as were NORTHERN FLICKERS. Besides those, we had a big up-tick in the number of PURPLE FINCH, who were seen and also heard well - calls, vireo-like songs, AND the typical repeated burbly songs. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were also numerous and singing.
Other that that, it was tough birding, and we had to search hard for virtually everything we managed to find.
I did think I heard RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD immediately south of the Dog Meadow, and after visiting the Rowing Club, I trekked back to that spot and found a displaying male. First of Year (FOY). That was are only new bird for the year; there were a dozen or two swallows flying high overhead, but they seemed to be all TREE SWALLOWS. No Violet-green Swallows for us yet.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed Gull, Northern Shrike, Violet-green Swallow, and Pine Siskin.
For the day, we eked out 53 species. Adding RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, we're at 77 species for the survey this year.
= Michael Hobbs |
Report for March 5, 2026 Birding at Marymoor
The morning started misty-moisty and dark. We had a bit of clearing, and then steady drizzle when we got to the East Meadow. This miraculously disappeared by the time I got to the Rowing Club, so after that I returned to the East Meadow for a sunny return visit. Temps in the high 40's, no wind or fog.
Highlights:
- Greater White-fronted Goose - Five below the weir - First since January, but possibly the same birds
- California Gull - Perhaps 25 mixed in with GWGU, a few Ring-billeds, and many Short-billed Gulls on the grass fields
- Great Blue Heron - Nest building, and growing numbers - maybe 125 birds today
- Cooper's Hawk - I had one on my return to the East Meadow
- Five Woodpecker Day - All but Downy seen very well during the Main Loop. I had one Downy at the Rowing Club. Northern Flickers seemed especially numerous
- Northern Shrike - North of Fields 7-8-9, and later at the East Meadow. Very sharp-looking bird
- Tree Swallow - Perhaps 20, in several places. First of Year(FOY)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Especially numerous, with much-lots-many singing!
- Varied Thrush - One heard singing west of the slough from the start of the boardwalk. Maybe the same one heard closer at the Rowing Club
- American Robin - Much singing, including a full pre-dawn chorus when I arrived at 5:40 a.m.
- White-throated Sparrow - One just south of the heronry along the slough trail
- "Eastern" Song Sparrow - I spotted this pale bird in the usual west-edge-of-the-East-Meadow spot on my late return
- Western Meadowlark - At least 2 singing on my late return to the East Meadow
- Yellow-rumped Warblers - Maybe as many as 10; they've been notably missing recently
We also had great looks at a Muskrat.
Misses today included Cackling Goose, Green-winged Teal, and Pine Siskin.
For the day, 61 species (best so far in 2026). Adding TREE SWALLOW, we're up to 76 species for the survey in 2026.
= Michael Hobbs |
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Male Common Merganser. Photo by Michael Hobbs
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Male Hairy Woodpecker; Photo by Michael Hobbs
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"Eastern" Song Sparrow. Photo by Michael Hobbs
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Muskrat; Photo by Michael Hobbs
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Report for February 26, 2026 Birding at Marymoor
We were blown away by all the little birds at Marymoor today. Wait, that's not quite right. *We* were at Marymoor Park today, where *all the little birds* were blown away.
Well, it wasn't quite that windy, but it was blowing strong enough that birds were hard to hear and harder to see if they were smaller than a robin. Temps were in the high 40's though, and it was only partly overcast, so not too bad for walking. Just hard to keep your hat on.
Highlights:
- Cackling Goose - Two with a few Canadas - our first in six weeks
- Northern Pintail - Drake with Green-winged Teal below the weir - First of Year (FOY)
- Great Blue Heron - Now at about 100 birds at the nests, with active nest building
- Cooper's Hawk - One chasing a Red-tailed Hawk
- Red-breasted Sapsucker - One seen calling in the Big Cottonwood Forest - only our second for the year
- Merlin - Landed across the slough from the Dog Area. First since Jan. 1 for us
- California Scrub-Jay - One calling at about 6:40 a.m. from NE of the East Maintenance Facility (FOY)
- Purple Finch - One singing male was OUR ONLY FINCH
- White-throated Sparrow - Two at the south end of the Dog Meadow
- "Eastern" Song Sparrow - Glimpsed in its usual location NW of the East Meadow sheds
- Western Meadowlark - Several singing north of Fields 7-8-9
Misses today included Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Wilson's Snipe, Ring-billed Gull, Marsh Wren (may have heard), House Finch, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
For the day, at least 52 species. For the year, we're at an even 75 species.
= Michael Hobbs |
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White-throated Sparrow. Photo by Michael Hobbs
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This individual was especially brightly marked; Photo by Michael Hobbs
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Report for February 19, 2026 Birding at Marymoor
It was about as typical a February day as you could get this morning. Temps ranging from 32-38, cloudy, pretty quiet, few surprises. One of the biggest surprises was the lack of precipitation beyond a few snowflakes (not even Flurries, since we could actually have counted the number of flakes we saw).
Highlights:
- Horned Grebe - I was able to confirm that the tiny white dots on the lake were, in fact, Horned Grebe
- Barred Owl - Matt was accosted (but not hit) by one pre-dawn near the "Mysterious Thicket". First of Year (FOY)
- Pileated Woodpecker - Pair heard and glimpsed, and later seen up close
- Northern Shrike - East Meadow, seen from the Viewing Mound
- Varied Thrush - One heard singing across the slough from the Lake Platform. Only our 2nd of the winter!
- Western Meadowlarks - A dozen on the grass soccer fields
After hearing them often, we found the pair working a short snag near the South Picnic Shelter (due east of the concert stage). We were able to get within a few feet of them as they worked extensively on the trunk. They paid us no attention at all.
We had only nine species singing today, down significantly from last week. There also were just way fewer birds around.
Misses today included Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Cooper's Hawk, Bushtit, and Pine Siskin.
For the day, 52 species. Adding Barred Owl, we're up to 73 species for 2026.
= Michael Hobbs |
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Female Pileated Woodpecker; Photo by Michael Hobbs
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Male Pileated Woodpecker, a little higher on the same snag; Photo by Michael Hobbs
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Report for February 12, 2026 Birding at Marymoor
Today started with just a hit of frost and a hint of fog. The thin overcast burned thinner all morning, giving us more and more sunshine and warmth. Starting right around 32 degrees, it was 47 degrees when we were done.
So much singing today!
Highlights:
- Great Blue Heron - 75+ at the heronry, plus a few others
- Cooper's Hawk - One, near the southwest edge of the Dog Meadow, was our first in 4 weeks
- Four woodpecker day - Downies, at least 1 Hairy, 2 Pileateds (very noisy and obvious), and a horde of extremely vocal Northern Flickers
- Hutton's Vireo - One singing from across the slough near the windmill
- SWAMP SPARROW - One(or maybe two?), west side of the slough a little south of the Dog Area. Our first since 2022. First of Year (FOY)
Singing birds comprised Anna's Hummingbird, Hutton's Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Marsh Wren, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, House Finch, Purple Finch, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Western Meadowlark, and Red-winged Blackbird!
Misses today included Ring-necked Duck; and Short-billed, Ring-billed, and Glaucous-winged Gulls (though we did have two larus sp., one of which had black wingtips).
For the day, 53 species (counting gull sp.). For the year, adding the SWAMP SPARROW, we're at 72 species.
= Michael Hobbs |
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Bald Eagle pair. Photo by Michael Hobbs
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Swamp Sparrow Photo by Michael Hobbs
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