Friends of Marymoor Park

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Bird Sightings Week 22
May 28 - June 3*

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Rarities for Week 22:

Long-billed Curlew 31-May-18 Kaylin Ingalls, ph.
Pectoral Sandpiper 26-May-17 eBird Rick Tyler and others, ph.
...Pectoral Sandpiper 27-May-17 eBird Chuck Jensen, ph.
...Pectoral Sandpiper 29-May-17 eBird Blair Bernson, Sherrie Morts
Franklin's Gull 30-May-02 Brian saw this bird on the east grass soccer fields around 6:10 a.m.
American White Pelican 29-May-16 Ten birds flew overhead, photographed by Joshua Rudolph
Brown Pelican 01-Jun-08 On a boat dock between the Marymoor Lake Platform and Idlewood.  Would have been visible from the platform, but I saw it from the Archstone condo complex
Long-eared Owl 30-May-13 Apparently killed by crows around 5 a.m..  Found later.
Lewis's Woodpecker 29-May-11 Reported by Leah Morris

...Lewis's Woodpecker

30-May-11 Reported by Dave & Yvonne Slater, Leah Morris

...Lewis's Woodpecker

02-Jun-11  
Ash-throated Flycatcher 02-Jun-22 East Meadow
Rock Wren 27-May-16 One at Compost Piles.  Photographed by Hank Heiberg
House Wren 03-Jun-21 Bird remained 03-Jun to at least 01-Jul


Brewer's Sparrow 01-Jun-17  
Lark Sparrow 30-May-11 Photographed by Ron Ben-Shalom
Green-tailed Towhee 01-Jun-22 Photographed by Kristine Anderson
Yellow-headed Blackbird 28-May-15 Two females at Compost Piles
Yellow-headed Blackbird 31-May-04 Reported by Jack McKinnon at Community Gardens
Townsend's Chipmonk 02-Jun-03 In ivy just south of first footbridge
Bobcat 02-Jun-23 Photographed by Kazuto Shibata near east end of boardwalk

Report for May 30, 2024                                                                                                                   Birding at Marymoor

The rain eased up right around the official start time (5:30 a.m.), and we did the survey without getting more than a few drops on us.  We even saw our shadows late in the morning.  But it wasn't warm (44-53), and the birds could have been a little more cooperative.  Still, it was a good morning.

Highlights:
  • Wood Duck - Two (maybe three) clutches of ducklings
  • Blue-winged Teal - Male, seen best at Lake Platform
  • Common Merganser - Female with around 8 ducklings on her back, seen from the Rowing Club dock
  • Spotted Sandpiper - Downstream flyby from the Rowing Club dock
  • Downy Woodpecker - Nest exchange near the start of the boardwalk
  • Bullock's Oriole - Silent female a little north of the heronry.  First of Year (FOY)
  • MacGillivray's Warbler - One singing and glimpsed SW of the concert stage; may have heard another earlier (FOY)
The heronry has many large juveniles stuffing the nests.  There were baby birds of several species.

Misses today included Rock Pigeon, Glaucous-winged Gull, Green Heron, Cliff Swallow, Wilson's Warbler, and Western Tanager.

For the day, 61 species.  I believe we're now at 123 species for the year.

= Michael Hobbs


Male Wood Ducks. Photo by Tony Ernst


Juvenile Bewick's Wren. Photo by Tony Ernst


American Beaver. Photo by Tony Ernst


Male Yellow Warbler. Photo by Tony Ernst

Report for June 1, 2023                                                                                                                   Birding at Marymoor

It was an unreasonably chilly 40 degrees at the start of our walk this morning.  The temperature did manage to rise to a more reasonable 56 by the end of the walk, but it sure took it's time.  I t was mostly cloudy this morning, and most of the time there was not a breath of wind.  Lots of birds were singing; seeing them was another matter.

Highlights:
  • Mourning Dove - One seen briefly near the weir was our second sighting of the year
  • Virginia Rail - One responded very lackadaisically from across the slough.  We seldom hear them in June
  • Spotted Sandpiper - Two at the weir
  • Bald Eagle - Many, again.  Their numbers may be affecting the numbers of some other species
  • Pileated Woodpecker - Parents still bringing food to the nest
  • Cedar Waxwing - Numbers continue to rise
  • Bullock's Oriole - Saw a female disappear into a nest near the heronry
More than twenty species were heard singing, but at least seven species were heard-only.

There were two juvenile Great Blue Herons standing together looking dejected under the nests.

Misses included Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Cliff Swallow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Wilson's Warbler.

For the day, 59 species.

= Michael Hobbs
Bobcat, 2023-06-02. Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Western Kingbird from the front, 2023-06-02.  Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Western Kingbird from the rear, 2023-06-02.  Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Report for June 2, 2022                                                                                                                   Birding at Marymoor

We had thin overcast today for most of the morning, but generally pretty nice weather.  No rain, and not too cold nor windy.  Surprisingly, there were only seven birders in our group today.
 
Highlights:
  • Cinnamon Teal – one at new ponds at the Rowing Club
  • ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER – first seen yesterday, still present in the East Meadow – First of Year (FOY) yesterday
  • WESTERN KINGBIRD – one in the East Meadow (FOY)
  • Northern Rough-winged Swallow – two in the East Meadow
  • Golden-crowned Kinglet – at least two begging babies in maple near concert stage
  • Orange-crowned Warbler – one singing (unseen) near the “Mysterious Thicket” south of the East Meadow
No sign of the Green-tailed Towhee (see https://ebird.org/checklist/S111928705) nor Eastern Kingbird, both seen yesterday.
 
Stunningly this is the 9th year that ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER has been seen at Marymoor.  There are June reports from 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2019, 2021, and now 2022, plus a late July sighting from 2011.
 
Besides GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, we also saw juveniles of CANADA GOOSE, WOOD DUCK, MALLARD, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, GREAT BLUE HERON (though none fledged yet), EUROPEAN STARLING, AMERICAN ROBIN, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and probably of chickadees and Bushtit.
 
We had quite a few misses today:  Rock Pigeon, Vaux’s Swift (again), Spotted Sandpiper (Matt may have glimpsed one), Glaucous-winged Gull, Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Brown Creeper, and Wilson’s Warbler.
 
Still, for the day we managed 57 species.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for June 3, 2021                                                                                                                      Birding at Marymoor

Michael was out of town this week, so Matt and I got to substitute for him. It was a nice day at Marymoor, decent temperatures – a bit chilly at 54F to start and going up to almost 70 at the finish.
 
We had two interesting events today. One was an enormous outcry at the Great Blue Heronry followed by a sighting of an adult Bald Eagle flying off carrying a young Great Blue. The second was Matt thought he heard a House Wren across the river near the weir. After a time of listening and thinking we heard it, Matt (since he had the high boots) managed to cross the river and listen on the other side. He said he could definitely hear a House Wren (we were particularly interested since it has been a considerable time since one has been at Marymoor). Finally, he was looking waaay up at the top of a tree. Karen and I moved along the fence so we could see what he was looking at – a small bird that at first didn’t look like a wren, but it was singing. Matt got good enough looks to decide it was a House Wren and Karen got a poor picture.
 
Generally, we mostly had the birds we would expect for early  June, including:
  • 4 species of ducks (Wood, Gadwall, Mallard, Common Merganser)
  • Both Hummingbirds (Anna’s & Rufous)
  • Spotted Sandpiper
  • Many Great Blue Herons at the nests
  • Osprey (at two nests)
  • Bald Eagles
  • 4 species of woodpeckers (Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy, Northern Flicker, Pileated)
  • OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
  • 4 species of swallows (Purple Martin – at nests, Tree, Violet-green, Barn)
  • HOUSE WREN – singing from the far side of the slough near the weir – rare for Marymoor, First of Year (FOY)
  • 5 sparrows (Dark-eyed Junco, Savannah – many singing, Song, Spotted Towhee, White-crowned)
  • 5 Warblers ( Common Yellowthroat, Yellow,Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Gray, Wilson’s)
  • Lazuli Bunting – at least 6 singing
Misses – Common Merganser, Rock Pigeon, Glaucous-winged Gull, Green Heron, Steller's Jay, Cliff Swallow, and Pine Siskin
 
For the day, 66 species.

Good Birding!
 
Brian H. Bell

Baby Western Screech-Owl, 2021-06-01.  Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Baby Western Screech-Owl, 2021-06-01.  Photo by Kazuto Shibata
Adult (probably female) Western Screech-Owl, 2021-06-01.  Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Report for May 28, 2020                                                                                               Birding at Marymoor

We had a gorgeous morning at Marymoor today, a small loose flock of birders doing our damnedest to maintain social distancing. There was lots of singing, especially early, and some interesting sightings.

Highlights:

  • Blue-winged Teal – pair landed on pond at Rowing Club – First of Year (FOY) for the Thursday surveys (though others have seen them)
  • CINNAMON TEAL – male landed soon after – very late for CITE at Marymoor
  • Osprey – females appear to be sitting on eggs on both of the nests
  • Cooper’s Hawk – juvenile over Rowing Club
  • Barn Owl – Matt had one over the East Meadow, around 4:30 a.m.
  • HUTTON’S VIREO – one singing in Rowing Club parking lot, just as we were about to leave – FOY
  • Purple Martin – all four plastic gourds appear to be used currently; there may be more nest(s) in snags west of the slough
  • Cedar Waxwing – many present. We watched a pair pass a salmonberry berry back and forth
  • Black-throated Gray Warbler – reported by Mark & Lee from Rowing Club, and by Ruth & Margaret from near the park entrance
  • EVENING GROSBEAK – Matt and Karen had 5 flyby over the East Meadow. FOY for the Thursday surveys
  • WESTERN MEADOWLARK - one flying near fields 7-8-9. Very late in spring for this species at Marymoor, though not unprecedented
  • Lazuli Bunting – Male and female near the Viewing Mound, probably at least 1 more male seen

Matt saw bats predawn, FOY.

For the day, 71 species, with at least a couple more seen by Mark & Lee.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for May 28, 2019                                                                                               Birding at Marymoor

We had high overcast skies this morning, but no wind or precip.  It was pretty birdy, and held a couple of surprises.
 
Highlights:
  • Wood Duck – female with 7 tiny ducklings at Rowing Club pond; 9 adults on lake
  • BLUE-WINGED TEAL – male at weir again
  • Mallard – at least 4 clutches of ducklings seen
  • Pied-billed Grebe – one in slough after a four week absence
  • Cooper’s Hawk – juvenile mobbed by crows
  • Hairy Woodpecker – I think the young have fledged from the nest; 2-4 birds seen, unclear of ages
  • Pileated Woodpecker – ditto; 2 adults seen
  • EASTERN KINGBIRD – male briefly in East Meadow before flying high to the south; only 2 earlier spring sightings on record.  New for 2019
  • Purple Martin – all four gourds occupied
  • Cedar Waxwing – very numerous now
  • GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW – 1 near windmill; latest spring sighting ever!
  • YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD – 1 female (“Yellow-fronted Brownbird”) at Pea Patch – new for 2019
We also had a 5-mammal day:  Eastern Gray Squirrel, American Beaver, Eastern Cottontail (many!), Mule Deer (Black-tailed)(2), and Long-tailed Weasel.
 
Misses today included Rock Pigeon, Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, and Cliff Swallow.
 
For the day, 68 species.  For the year, adding the EASTERN KINGBIRD and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, I think we’re at 125 species for 2019.

= Michael Hobbs

Report for May 31, 2018                                                                                                                    Birding at Marymoor

We had a really good day at Marymoor that included excitement and disappointment. Kaylin Ingalls found a LONG-BILLED CURLEW, a new species for the park. Through modern communications, we heard about the bird not long after she’d seen and photographed it, but we were unable to relocate the bird. So great excitement about a new species, and disappointment to have missed it!

But the rest of the morning was very good too. A high overcast, rain that held off, and good amounts of bird activity made for a great day.

Highlights:

  • Mallard – many clutches of ducklings of various sizes
  • COMMON MERGANSER – mother with three tiny ducklings, in slough above the weir
  • Eurasian Collared-Dove AND Mourning Dove
  • BLACK SWIFTS – about 25 over the Pea Patch, about when Kaylin was seeing the Curlew
  • Anna’s Hummingbird – nest with 2 babies near start of boardwalk – look ready to fledge
  • Spotted Sandpiper – copulating below the weir
  • Green Heron – one glimpsed
  • Barn Owl – Matt heard one/them in the windmill
  • Great Horned Owl – Matt heard a juvenile near where he heard one last week
  • Downy Woodpecker – baby sticking it’s head out of a hole in a snag
  • Pileated Woodpecker – one in large cottonwood snag, drumming
  • Northern Rough-winged Swallow – two below weir
  • Bushtit – family group with ~7 babies
  • Cedar Waxwing – notably numerous – maybe 30
  • YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD – female near Viewing Mound – First of 2018
  • Lazuli Bunting – female near Viewing Mound

This sighting of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, just our 8th ever, really makes their seasonality show. Of those 8 sightings, 6 are from the last three weeks in May, and the other two are from the first week of May and the 2nd week of June. So all of the sightings are within a 7 week period.

We had 69 species. Kaylin’s LONG-BILLED CURLEW makes 70. And Ann Marie Wood messaged me that she had an EASTERN KINGBIRD while searching unsuccessfully for the curlew. Not a bad day. :)

So I believe we’re at 133 species for 2018, and 234 species for the overall park list.

== Michael Hobbs


Common Merganser, 2018-05-25.  Photo by Terry Tsuchiyama

Long-billed Curlew.  Photo by Kaylin Ingalls


Long-billed Curlew.  Photo by Kaylin Ingalls


Long-billed Curlew.  Photo by Kaylin Ingalls

Report for June 1, 2017                                                                                                                 Birding at Marymoor

It was overcast, and then the mist began, which turned into rain for about a half an hour. It cleared up a bit after 9. But it was birdy.

Highlights:

  • Wood Duck - female with 10 small ducklings at the Rowing Club
  • Green Heron - one from the Lake Platform
  • Spotted Sandpiper - three below weir, some displays
  • Black Swift - 2 twice or 4; first of 2017
  • Red-breasted Sapsucker - many sightings -7 birds?
  • Six Swallow Species - missing only Bank; Martin in one of the gourds
  • BREWERS SPARROW - 3rd time this year! On fence between Dog Meadow and East Meadow
  • Lazuli Bunting - male chasing female near Viewing Mound
  • Dark-eyed Junco - first juveniles of the year

Matt heard 3 species of owl pre-dawn: 2 juvenile Barn Owls, one on the far side of slough, Great Horned Owl somewhere near the nest we found last week, and Western Screech-Owl near the east end of the boardwalk.

Last Friday, a 2-week-old owlet was found under the nest, and taken to a wildlife center. The nest was empty today.

The Anna's Hummingbirds near the start of the boardwalk fledged yesterday, we heard from a photographer.

For the day, 71 species, with Black Swift new for the year.

- Michael Hobbs


Adult and subadult male Bullock's Orioles.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Subadult Bald Eagle.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Subadult Bald Eagle.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Subadult Bald Eagle.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Vaux's Swift.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Black Swift.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Swainson's Thrush.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Female Downy Woodpecker.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Male Black-headed Grosbeak.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Brewer's Sparrow.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Female Red-breasted Nuthatch.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Chestnut-backed Chickadee.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Spotted Sandpiper.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Mule Deer fawn.  Photo by Bob Asanoma


Female Wood Duck with ducklings.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Female Wood Duck with ducklings.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Female Wood Duck with ducklings.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Female Wood Duck with ducklings.  Photo by Bob Asanoma


Adult female Anna's Hummmingbird feeding just-fledged young.
Photo by Kazuto Shibata


Two just-fledged Anna's Hummmingbirds
Photo by Kazuto Shibata


Cinnabar moth, 2017-05-29.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Pectoral Sandpiper.  Photo by Sravanthi Yalamanchili


Pectoral Sandpiper with Killdeer.  Photo by Brian Bell


Pectoral Sandpiper.  Photo by Mason Flint


Western Kingbird, 2017-05-27.  Photo by Sravanthi Yalamanchili


Western Kingbird, 2017-05-27.  Photo by Sravanthi Yalamanchili


Juvenile Great Horned Owl fell from the nest and was taken to a wildlife rehabilitator, 2017-05-27.  Photo by Bob Asanoma


Adult Great Horned Owl, 2017-05-27.  Photo by Bob Asanoma


Adult Great Horned Owl, 2017-05-27.  Photo by Kazuto Shibata


Four Long-tailed Weasels, 2017-05-13.  Photo by Kazuto Shibata

Report for June 2, 2016                                                                                                                     Birding at Marymoor

The rain stopped in the early morning hours, but it was overcast and breezy all morning. Not too cold, but not sunny at all. Kind of put a damper on the birds, I think. And we’re getting pretty well past migration, so things were active but not surprising today.

Highlights:

Wood Duck                    Several clutches of ducklings
Great Blue Heron            Babies getting large and feathered
Bald Eagle                       Many subadults, several adults
Spotted Sandpiper          Four at weir again/still
Band-tailed Pigeon          Many sightings, dozen+ birds
Hairy Woodpecker         Female at Rowing Club
Pileated Woodpecker     One seen twice, or two
MERLIN                        Caused quite a stir among swallows at the Lake Platform
Purple Martin                  Several females at gourds, possibly first-year birds
Lazuli Bunting                  Pair seen from Viewing Mound

There were what looked like feathered juveniles on the odd-snag RED-TAILED HAWK nest west of the park entrance. I also drove over to the model airplane parking lot after the walk, and was able to scope at least two fuzzy juveniles on the nest in the row of cottonwoods east of the field.

Lots of “misses” today, including Canada Goose, gulls, Rock Pigeon, owls, Black Swift (might have seen some WAY off east), Northern Flicker, Steller’s Jay, and Bullock’s Oriole. Despite that, we finished with 59 species in 5 hours.

== Michael Hobbs


Spotted Sandpiper.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

Often our view of Pileated Woodpecker is limited to a distant flying bird.
Photo by Ollie Oliver


Singing Willow Flycatcher.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Cedar Waxwing.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Golden-crowned Kinglet.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Female Purple Martin.  Photo by Bob Asanoma


Female Hairy Woodpecker.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Female Hairy Woodpecker.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


American Crow.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Wood Ducks.  Photo by Bob Asanoma


Deer on the far side of the slough.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


American Beaver.  Photo by Bob Asanoma

MARYMOOR PARK BIRD #231


10 American White Pelicans, 2016-05-29.  Photo by Joshua Rudolph


American White Pelicans, 2016-05-29.  Note the long bills, white bodies and long white wings, black primaries and secondaries.  Photo by Joshua Rudolph

MARYMOOR PARK BIRD #230


Rock Wren, 2016-05-27.  Photo by Hank Heiberg


Rock Wren, 2016-05-27.  Photo by Hank Heiberg

Report for May 28, 2015                                                                                                                    Birding at Marymoor

A remarkably summery day today, though with enough unexpected species to remind us that it’s still spring. It was almost warm to start, at 50 degrees, and quickly hit 70 under blue skies. Lots of singing, lots of activity, lots of heard-only and seldom seen birds.

Highlights:

Wood Duck                      Several, including unaccompanied duckling at pond
 Hooded Merganser          Unaccompanied (or with Wood Duck female) duckling
Pied-billed Grebe              Calling at lake; first since early April
Great Blue Heron              Many juveniles at heronry
Bald Eagle                         Numbers continue to be quite high – 7+
Sharp-shinned Hawk         1 flyby juvenile
Red-tailed Hawk               Adult feeding baby(s?) on odd-snag nest west of entrance
Spotted Sandpiper            1-2 at weir
Anna’s Hummingbird         Female on nest, fledged juvenile(s) about
All 5 Woodpeckers           Red-breasted Sapsucker most numerous of them
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER  Extremely distant bird; ID from photos
Pac.-slope Flycatcher        One near 2nd dog swim beach
WESTERN KINGBIRD  One north of Fields 7-8-9
EASTERN KINGBIRD   Todd Sahl had one at Compost Piles
Lazuli Bunting                   2-4 males, 1 female
Y.-H BLACKBIRD         2 females at Compost Piles, flew to model airplane field
Red Crossbill                    Maybe 25, mostly in Cottonwoods and overhead

 

Good mammal day, with good looks at American Beaver out from Dog Central, a Coyote, a Mule Deer, and the usual assortment of bunnies, squirrels, and turtles. Bullfrogs at the Rowing Club pond are numerous and huge, if anyone wants to fish for frogs legs.

For the day, 69 species. New for the year were OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN KINGBIRD and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. A Common Tern was reported on eBird earlier this week, which brings the park 2015 list to something like 135 species.

== Michael Hobbs


American Robin.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Spotted Sandpiper near the weir.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Male Yellow Warbler.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Cedar Waxwing.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


White-crowned Sparrow.  Photo by Hugh Jennings


Male Purple Martin.  Photo by Hugh Jennings


Singing Marsh Wren.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Marsh Wren.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Band-tailed Pigeon.  Photo by Bob Asanoma


All we could see of this extremely distant flycatcher was a silhouette that looked right for Olive-sided Flycatcher.  Close-crop of photo by Harlan Kammin


Photos by Lillian Reis appear to show the white flank patches that are diagnostic (though often not visible) for Olive-sided Flycatcher.


Olive-sided flycatcher photo by Lillian Reis


Yellow-headed Blackbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Yellow-headed Blackbird.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Western Kingbird.  Photo by Marvin Hoekstra


Western Kingbird.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Wood Duck duckling.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Male Western Tanager.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Swainson's Thrush.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Swainson's Thrush.  Photo by Marvin Hoekstra


Eastern Kingbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Eastern Kingbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Beaver.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Bullfrog.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Report for May 29, 2014                                                                                                                     Birding at Marymoor

Dark overcast, and a bit chilly and breezy this morning, but pretty birdy. No surprises really, but a fine May day.

Highlights:

Wood Duck                           Several clutches of ducklings
Mallard                                  Ditto
Great Blue Heron                   A few young have fledged, others still on nests
Bald Eagle                             Appear to have fledged 2-3 young this year
Spotted Sandpiper                 One flew downstream from lake platform
Eurasian Collared-Dove         1 or 2 flybys of single birds
Pacific-slope Flycatcher         1 along southwest edge of Dog Meadow
N. Rough-winged Swallow     2-4, weir and lake
Orange-crowned Warbler      1 heard in Snag Row south of fields 7-8-9
White-crowned Sparrow        1 fledged juvenile, 2 adults, Pea Patch
Lazuli Bunting                         3+ males, female
Bullock’s Oriole                      Pair near heronry

The early birders saw bats, but no owls. There was a Beaver in the slough around 6:00 am., below the weir.

Misses for the day were Downy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch (unless someone else heard one), and Wilson’s Warbler. No sign of the Western Kingbirds that were seen Monday in the East Meadow. And no Black Swifts, which we were hoping would make their first appearance of the year.

For the day, 65 species. With Monday’s Western Kingbirds, I believe our 2014 list is at 134.

== Michael Hobbs


Wood Duck female with ducklings.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
 


Male Bullock's Oriole.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Western Wood-Pewee.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Bushtit with nesting material.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Note Bushtit nest at bottom center.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Female Lazuli Bunting.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Red-breasted Sapsucker at sap wells.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Recently fledged Bald Eagle.  Photo by Hugh Jennings


Cedar Waxwings.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Two Western Kingbirds, 2014-05-26.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Western Kingbird, 2014-05-26.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Western Kingbird, 2014-05-26.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Western Kingbird, 2014-05-26.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Report for May 30, 2013                                                                                                                              Birding at Marymoor

It was cold and breezy, but at least we never got more than a few drops of rain, and we even had shadows for a while. Not tremendously birdy, but not bad.

Our most notable sighting was of a dead bird. Early in the morning, Matt and Dasha had noticed crows creating a ruckus near the Viewing Mound, but had never investigated. Later, while doing our usual rounds, I walked down a bit to the east of the Compost Piles in the area where the crows had been active, and found a dead LONG-EARED OWL that showed injuries possibly consistent with being pecked by crows. The body was still somewhat warm. We spent a long time determining Long-eared vs. Short-eared: this bird had diffuse gray barring at the tips of the underside of the wings, not bolder blacker tips as a Short-eared should have. The lower breast and belly feathers also appeared to have horizontal barring. The only previous LEOWs for Marymoor have been in January (once) and March (3 times).

The other really notable sighting was from the lake platform. At the mouth of the slough were a single male, 3 adult females, and TWENTY TWO small WOOD DUCK ducklings (all seemingly the same age). Later, from the Rowing Club dock, we saw another female Wood Duck with three Wood Duck ducklings and two HOODED MERGANSER ducklings. These babies looked to be perhaps a week older than the first group. It was interesting to see that, already, the Hooded Merganser ducklings were peering under the water for possible food, while the Wood Duck ducklings contented themselves with picking at things on the water’s surface and on the tops of lily pads.

Other highlights:

Bald Eagle                             Maybe 6 or more, adults & immatures
Black Swift                            Three seen twice overhead (or six?)
Hairy Woodpecker                Juvenile mixing it up with Downy at RC.
The nest near the windmill had no activity, probably indicating fledging
WILLOW FLYCATCHER   About 3, singing. First of spring
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  Feeding young near Dog Central
Brown Creeper                     Adult with begging young, start of boardwalk
Bewick’s Wren                     Apparently feeding young near west footbridge
Golden-crowned Kinglet        Lots of chirping, begging young
Cedar Waxwing                     Nest found west of boardwalk
Yellow-rumped Warbler        One or more heard singing near mansion
Western Tanager                   Still a couple around
Lazuli Bunting                        Pair at Viewing Mound, another north of fields 7-8-9
Bullock’s Oriole                    One male west of slough
Red Crossbill                         Flock(s?) of 15+ overhead all morning
Evening Grosbeak                  Twice had flock(s?) of about a dozen overhead

For the day, 64 species. LONG-EARED OWL and WILLOW FLYCATCHER new for the year.

== Michael Hobbs


Black Swift.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Male Black-headed Grosbeak.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz


Western Wood-Pewee.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Western Wood-Pewee.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Juvenile Great Blue Herons in the heronry  Dasha Gudalewicz

Juvenile Brown Creeper (note short bill).  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Juvenile Chestnut-backed Chickadee  Ollie Oliver

Begging juvenile Chestnut-backed Chickadee.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Cedar Waxwing on the nest.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Cedar Waxwing.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Typical of many of our sightings recently, just a glimpse of the wrong end
of a male Yellow Warbler.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Lazuli Bunting.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz

Long-eared Owl, apparently killed by American Crows shortly after 5:00 a.m.
Photo by Michael Hobbs


Top side of the Long-eared Owl.  Photo by Lillian Reis


Wood Duck with ducklings.  Photo by Dasha Gudalewicz


Two of her five ducklings weren't hers!  This female Wood Duck is preceded by a Hooded Merganser duckling, one of two.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Report for May 31, 2012                                                                                                                             Birding at Marymoor

We timed the rain "perfectly", meaning that we got hit with the hardest rain of the day. Mist turned to drizzle, to light rain, and then to steady rain around 9:00, before fading back to mist by the time we were at the Rowing Club. The birds mostly chose to hide out for the 5 hours we were at Marymoor, and I don't blame them.

Highlights:

Black Swift                      1 seen from the lake platform
Red-breasted Sapsucker  1 eating elderberries at the RC
Hairy Woodpecker          Adult bring food to the nest near start of the boardwalk
Cedar Waxwing               Especially numerous
Long-tailed Weasel          Pea Patch - stole the show (and caught a mouse or vole)

It's very unusual for us to get BLACK SWIFT on a rainy day. Usually,  they're only at Marymoor on cloudy days without precipitation.

For they day, just 55 species.

== Michael Hobbs


Red-breasted Sapsucker eating unripe Red Elderberries.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Mother Mallard with ducklings.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Mother Mallard with ducklings.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Swainson's Thrush.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Belted Kingfisher, 2012-05-28.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Osprey, 2012-05-28.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Black-capped Chickadee, 2012-05-28.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Bullock's Oriole in a Black Cottonwood, 2012-05-26. Photo by Lillian Reis

Male Wilson's Warbler, 2012-05-26.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Spotted Sandpiper, 2012-.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Cliff and Barn Swallows gathering mud, 2012-05-26.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Western Wood-Pewee, 2012-05-25.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Song Sparrow, 2012-05-25.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Female Western Tanager, 2012-05-25.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Savannah Sparrow, 2012-05-25.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Male Lazuli Bunting and male Anna's Hummingbird, 2012-05-25.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Moth, 2012-05-26.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Report for June 2, 2011                                                                                                                           Birding at Marymoor

It was dark and rainy (fairly hard rain until we got to the lake platform). We also faced an onslaught of mosquitoes, primarily south of the Dog Area. It did begin to clear slowly, though, and the birds started showing themselves.

Biggest highlight of the day was a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER, probably the same one found May 30. It was hanging around in the London Plane trees as you enter Lot G (the Interpretive Lot, or the eastern Dog Area lot). This was my personal 200th species for Marymoor Park!

Other highlights:

Wood Duck                     Twice, females with ducklings
Green Heron                    About 3 sightings (slough, lake)
Ring-billed Gull                 Flyover flock of about 30, mostly juveniles
Mourning Dove                 Houston Flores reported one
Barn Owl                          Matt had one early
BLACK SWIFT              1-2 over mansion
Red-breasted Sapsucker   2 seen
Willow Flycatcher             One singing, East Meadow
Purple Martin                    Female in gourd at lake
CHIPPING SPARROW  One in Pea Patch

Warbler numbers were down considerably, except for YELLOW WARBLER which seemed more common.

For the day, 68 species. For the year, WILLOW FLYCATCHER and BLACK SWIFT  were new, and also added this week were the LEWIS'S WOODPECKER and LARK  SPARROW, both from May 30.

So not a bad day at all, despite the weather !

== Michael Hobbs


Lewis's Woodpecker.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Chipping Sparrow.  Photo by Ollie Oliver


Female Purple Martin.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Ring-billed Gulls.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

White-crowned Sparrow.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Female Black-headed Grosbeak.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Lewis's Woodpecker 2011-05-30.  Photo by David Slater

Lewis's Woodpecker 2011-05-30.  Photo by David Slater

Lark Sparrow, 2011-05-30.  Photo by Ron Ben-Shalom

Lark Sparrow, 2011-05-30.  Photo by Ron Ben-Shalom

Male Wilson's Warbler, 2011-05-29.  Photo by Marc Hoffman

Swainson's Thrush, 2011-05-27.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Male Black-headed Grosbeak in flight, 2011-05-27.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Courting Cedar Waxwings, 2011-05-27.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Report for June 3, 2010

The weather was fairly cooperative this morning.  Broken overcast, a bit of a breeze, and still unseasonably cool, but not cold today.  And no precipitation
(yay).  Water levels are really high for June, with part of the boardwalk flooded!  Normally we're heading down into dry times by now, but not this year.  Not too terribly birdy today, and migration is almost over.  But summer birds are here and nesting. 

Highlights:

No Canada Geese

Green Heron                      A couple of flybys
Osprey                              At least 4, seen in one kettle
Bald Eagle                         High numbers remain - 10+
BLACK SWIFT               Maybe 35 all morning, most to the east
Downy Woodpecker         Female feeding baby at the nest
Pileated Woodpecker        1 near Rowing Club dock
Pacific-slope Flycatcher     1 in Big Cottonwood Forest
American Crow                  Fledgling near park office
Black-capped Chickadee   Fledglings being fed
Golden-crowned Kinglet     Fledglings gadding about
Cedar Waxwing                 Lots, incl. a pair passing a berry
Wilson's Warbler                Still a couple around
Western Tanager                Glimpses of a couple
LAZULI BUNTING          Male at Compost Piles - FOS
Evening Grosbeak              Heard overhead a few times

The snag in Snag Row that has had a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE nest in it this spring fell over sometime between last Thursday and today, smashing the
split-rail fencing.  Young were being fed last week - let's hope they fledged before the tree came down.

Also seen - MULE DEER (or Black-tailed Deer) in the early morning.  A COYOTE went into the Dog Meadow from the east at around 9:30.   There was a dead (maybe juvenile) LONG-TAILED WEASEL on a wood chip pile in the East Meadow. One pile over had a dead TOWNSEND'S MOLE.  And lots and lots of MOSQUITOES.

For the day, 63 species.  Lazuli Bunting was the only new species for the year.

== Michael


Pileated Woodpecker photo by Ollie Oliver
Osprey


Savannah Sparrow photo by Lillian Reis

Cedar Waxwing photo by Ollie Olive

Tree Swallow in the East Meadow

Cottonwood snag that had housed a Chestnut-backed Chickadee nest

Juvenile Downy Woodpecker in the nest hole.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Black-capped Chickadee fledgling photo by Ollie Oliver

Looking for kinglets near the mansion

Male Rufous Hummingbird.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

American Robin with worms, 2010-05-28.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Willow Flycatcher, 2010-05-30.  Photo by Lillian Reis
American Robin with worms, 2010-05-28.  Photo by Lillian Reis

Report for May 28, 2009

A gorgeous summer day. Migration is mostly over, so our bird count was down from last week.  But the summer birds were singing and visible, and there were still a couple of migrants to enjoy.

There were also mosquitoes...

Highlights:

Wood Duck                       3 clutches of babies
Mallard                              Ducklings at the Rowing Club
Ring-necked Pheasant        Male strutting around near mansion
Green Heron                      On nest at Rowing Club
Bald Eagle                          FIVE at lake
Rufous Hummingbird          Still on nest near Dog Central
Warbling Vireo                  One with nest material at RC
Red-eyed Vireo                 Heard 1 at the S end of Dog Meadow
Swainson's Thrush              Beginning to sing
Cedar Waxwing                 Ubiquitous.
Yellow Warbler                 Several, singing, and a female
Common Yellowthroat       Most common warbler
Wilson's Warbler               One or two males
Western Tanager               Male near mansion, female near lake
Black-headed Grosbeak    Ubiquitous
Lazuli Bunting                     Pair in Snag Row, maybe a 2nd male too
Bullock's Oriole                 Pair chasing each other around
Purple Finch                      One highly-colored male in forest

One CEDAR WAXWING was doing a funny display dance.  With his tail cocked and his head back, he'd bounce to the right, bounce to the left, then hop up a branch.  For several minutes he moved his way up a bare tree closer and  closer to another waxwing at the top who appeared uninterested (though she didn't fly away).

We also had a Raccoon, a Long-tailed Weasel, and either a Beaver or a River Otter (I think the latter), plus the usual squirrels and bunnies.

For the day, 58 species.  For the year, adding REVI, we're now at 141.

BTW - I just had a Raccoon and a Pacific-slope Flycatcher in my yard while writing this note.

== Michael


Ollie Oliver's portrait of a male Black-headed Grosbeak, taken May 23

Brian Dobbin's took this wonderful photo of a Long-tailed Weasel on May 22

Ollie's photo of a Northern Harrier, May 23

Ollie's photo of a male Lazuli Bunting near the Compost Piles on May 23

Same bunting singing

Dave Templeton's photo of the female Rufous Hummingbird on her nest

Ollie's photo of a male Purple Finch in an Oregon Ash tree

Dave Templeton's male Black-headed Grosbeak

Ollie Oliver's photo of a Tree Swallow at the nest box in the East Meadow

Another shot by Brian Dobbins - the Barn Owl in the nest box

Ollie's photo of a male Gadwall duck

Report for May 29, 2008

Mayvember (or maybe No-May-Brrr) continues, with the temperature waffling on either side of 50 degrees, and a 10 mph wind, and fairly heavy overcast.  It wasn't a bad day really, except for it being so unseasonable. Oh, and so mosquito-y.  I only got bit once, but they certainly were annoying.  By the very end of the day, we'd gotten at least 1 look at most of the species, but it was a day where the list wasn't too bad, but the sighting opportunities were a bit slim.  We missed Northern Flicker and Cliff Swallow entirely, and three species were heard-only.  Still, the 17 of us had a pretty good morning.

Highlights:

Canada Goose                At least 3 families on the lake
Wood Duck                    Two females with young ducklings
Green Heron                   Nesting at the Rowing Club
Cooper's Hawk               Pair active near mansion, 2 others
Red-breasted Nuthatch   Adult feeding fledged young
Swainson's Thrush           Heard only, but lots of singing
Cedar Waxwing              Ubiquitous
Western Tanager             A couple of looks
Lazuli Bunting                  1 male briefly seen near Compost Piles
Bullock's Oriole               2-3 males

I think all of the BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS we saw were males.  Perhaps the females are all on nests?

For the day, 58 species.  Still no Blue-winged Teal, Spotted Sandpipers, Black Swifts, nor Red-eyed Vireos.

== Michael


Willow Flycatcher singing

Male Western Tanager


Orange Honeysuckle, Lonicera ciliosa


Male Purple Martin


Cedar Waxwing in Common Hawthorn


Female American Goldfinch


Tree Swallow nesting near windmill

Warbling Vireo at Rowing Club

American Robin at Rowing Club on the biggest, plushest nest I've ever seen

Green Heron nest at Rowing Club. Photo by Graham Hutchison, 2008-05-28

Report for May 31, 2007

We were "only" eleven people today, on a gorgeous morning. Sunny, clear, little wind, cool enough to not be cold, and it didn't get too, too hot until later. It was nicely birdy, and many of the birds chose to pose for us. Nothing new for the year, but a good variety of the summer birds showed themselves.

Highlights:

There were two female BUFFLEHEAD at the lake - getting quite late for them.

On the Rowing Club pond was a female HOODED MERGANSER with 10 ducklings.

Well out on the lake were 4-6 WESTERN GREBE.

Near the windmill, a very aggressive ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD who chased juncos, goldfinches, and a robin.

In the middle of the Cottonwood Forest, we found a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE nest.

Good looks at singing male YELLOW WARBLERS today, as well as SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and WARBLING VIREO.

There were probably two singing RED-EYED VIREOS in the Cottonwood Forest, and most of us got looks at one of them.

I heard a singin LAZULU BUNTING right at 5:30, north of fields 7-8-9, but we couldn't locate one later.

We had several BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, including a pair near the Rowing Club dock that gave us good looks. They seemed to be being chased around by RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS.

For the day, 63 species.

== Michael


Swainson's Thrush eating unripe Red Elderberry berries.

 


Bald Eagle adult


 


Western Wood-Pewee leaving the nest in the Cottonwood Forest


Willow Flycatcher


Barn Swallows


Hooded Merganser with 5 of her 10 ducklings, Rowing Club pond

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Bird Sightings Week 22
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