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Friends of Marymoor Park
Recent Bird Sightings
Report for April 24, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
Gorgeous day (you should have seen the crescent moon and Venus to the east at 5:30 a.m.!). Sunny, cool to start but warming, no wind. The dawn chorus was loud but disappointingly free of any new voices for the spring. And that's pretty much what we found all morning; almost zero new arrivals. This was particularly disappointing since several species that we have not yet had on the survey were reported on eBird during the week. This perhaps points out that during migration, birds pass through as much as they arrive.
Highlights:
- Green Heron - Fairly high-flying bird heading south past the windmill. These former breeders at Marymoor have almost disappeared since the Great Blue Herons built their heronry
- Five woodpecker day - though Hairy and Pileated were heard-only
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Two in the East Meadow, First of Year (FOY) for the survey
- White-crowned Sparrow - Still at least one gambelii subspecies song heard, though most were the breeding pugetensis type
- Western Meadowlark - One in the East Meadow. These turn up surprisingly late during spring sometimes
- Western Tanager - Male, silent, in the riparian strip west of the Dog Meadow (FOY)
The WESTERN TANAGER was a real surprise since this is the earliest ever for the Marymoor Survey, and the 2nd earliest for the park reported on eBird. Our previous earliest sighting was on 26-Apr-2018. On eBird, there is a report from Sarah Pedan, 20-Apr-17. Most years they have not appeared until May.
We had a better day for mammals, with coyote and deer seen along with the more usual beaver, bunny, and squirrel.
Misses today included Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Vaux's Swift, American Coot, Wilson's Snipe, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pied-billed Grebe, American Barn Owl, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Hermit Thrush, and Lincoln's Sparrow.
Despite that long list of misses and our general disappointment in the morning, we had 58 species. Adding NRWS and WETA puts the survey at 96 species for 2025.
= Michael Hobbs |
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Crescent moon and ground fog before sunrise. Venus is barely visible 20% from the left, very near the top of the image. Photo by Michael Hobbs
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Report for April 17, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
It was a gorgeous morning without a cloud in the sky nor a breath of wind. Pre-dawn was stunning. But clear skies overnight mean a cold start; I wasn't really prepared for 36 degrees and frost on the ground. I'd been more worried I'd get too warm - it was 56 degrees when we finished. It's hard to dress for a 20-degree swing. The dawn chorus was loud, varied, and lasted at least an hour after sunrise. At least 20 species were heard singing!
Highlights:
- Great Blue Heron - Grum-grum-grum-grum calls from the nests indicate young have hatched
- Bald Eagle - So many sightings, including a juvenile in the heronry. Maybe 7-9 eagles seen today
- Merlin - A couple of quick fly-bys
- PURPLE MARTIN - At least one male checking out the gourds. Maybe another one heard to the east. First of Year (FOY)
- Barn Swallow - One at the East Meadow, two at the lake late (FOY)
- Bushtit - We now know of at least nests
- CHIPPING SPARROW - One seen singing just east of the Dog Area portapotties (FOY)
- Brown-headed Cowbird - Finally confirmed for the survey for the year. Several males seen and heard (FOY)
- Orange-crowned Warbler - Probably at least three seen singing (FOY)
A late scan of the lake turned up a host of species we hadn't seen earlier:
- Ring-necked Duck - One pair. Any seen after next week will be notably late
- Bufflehead - Two males. Might still be around for a couple more weeks
- AMERICAN COOT - Two under the cabana, first since February
- Pied-billed Grebe - Only one remaining
- COMMON LOON - Confirmation of a bird seen far out from the platform on the main survey (FOY)
Both AMERICAN COOT and PIED-BILLED GREBE used to be regular nesting species at Marymoor, but have only rarely been noted during breeding season the last several years.
Misses today included Rock and Band-tailed Pigeon (though two pigeon sp. were glimpsed), Double-crested Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher, and Cliff Swallow.
For the day, 61 species. For the year, adding the six species noted above, we're at 94 species for the survey in 2025.
= Michael Hobbs |
Report for April 10, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
It was a beautiful day while we were there, but our hopes to make Michael jealous by finding a rarity weren’t fulfilled.
Purple Finch and Yellow-rumped Warblers were constantly singing throughout the day, but overall the numbers of birds seen seemed low.
Highlights:
- Common Yellowthroat - First of Year (FOY) for the survey. We thought we heard several, but finally in the east meadow had a male singing and seen for sure.
- Osprey - after a single high-flying bird was our only sighting last week, this week it seemed as if they were moved in - we heard and saw them several times throughout the day, though the Canada Geese are still clinging to the two Osprey nest platforms for now.
- Wilson’s Snipe - several below the weir still
- Only one Fox Sparrow heard today, and we got close to missing Ruby-crowned Kinglet -
Misses included Common Goldeneye, Rock Pigeon, Hairy Woodpecker, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, American Goldfinch.
For the day, 55 species [counting ‘accip. sp]. For the year, we're at 88 species for the survey.
Matt Bartels |
Report for April 3, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
We had a really good day at Marymoor today. Temps in the 40's, overcast shifting to partly sunny, no wind, lots of birds.
Highlights:
- Cackling Goose - A flock of 20 flew south just before 7:00
- Eurasian Collared-Dove - One near the slough, First of Year (FOY)
- Green Heron - One flying fairly high towards the lake, (FOY), though Mason thought he might have glimpsed one last week
- Osprey - Jordan spotted one way high up, way far away, but it gave good-though-distant views (FOY)
- Sharpie/Cooper's - NE of mansion, being chased by a crow. Thinking Sharpie on this one, but couldn't be positive
- Bald Eagle - A total of at least 7, I figure, with one in a nest
- Red-breasted Sapsucker - Again several, with much drumming
- Five Woodpecker Day
- American Goldfinch - Three near the park office (FOY)
The best highlight was a BOBCAT just south of the windmill on the Clise Mansion lawn.
The dawn chorus was very loud.
Misses today were Common Goldeneye, American Coot, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbird (might have heard), and Common Yellowthroat. The latter two will be present next week, or I'll eat my hat.
For the day, 63 species, our highest total so far this year. Adding EUCD, GRHE, OSPR, and AMGO, we're at 87 species for the survey in 2025.
= Michael Hobbs |
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Crayfish claw under the heronry shows they eat crustaceans as well as fish.
Photo by Michael Hobbs
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Bobcat on the Clise Mansion lawn!. Photos by Michael Hobbs
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Report for March 27, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
Despite the fierce weather last night, today's weather was quite good. We did have a little fog for the first hour of the survey, and about 3 minutes of mizzle (of course, that exactly coincided with our time at the Lake Platform), but the rest of the morning was cloudy at worst, and sometimes it was sunny. Pretty birdy too.
I believe today's walk is the 31st Anniversary for the survey.
Highlights:
- Cackling Goose - About 20 flying south in a perfect V at 6:45 a.m. First in 3 weeks
- Canada Goose - Seem to be planning to nest on one or more of the Osprey nests
- Band-tailed Pigeon - One seen twice, or two. First of Year (FOY)
- Rufous Hummingbird - Quite a few males - maybe 6 total - scattered around the park
- Five Woodpecker Day - All of the expected ones
- Hutton's Vireo - One heard faintly southwest of the mansion
- Northern Shrike - One across the slough. Should be heading north very soon
- Savannah Sparrow - Maybe five or so, including one singing, north end of the East Meadow (FOY)
- Lincoln's Sparrow - One with the Savannahs made for an 8 sparrow day
At the heronry, several nests have been started in the next cottonwood south of the existing heronry. About 1/3 of the existing nests were lost in the bomb cyclone this winter when three trunks came down, so I was expecting this southern expansion. Also, a few heron egg shells are on the ground under the nests. Not positive if these indicate hatching already, but they do confirm egg laying has already begun.
Nesting of other species is underway. Brown Creeper and American Crow were both seen carrying nest materials.
As I left the park, I saw three WESTERN MEADOWLARKS at the model airplane field.
Just as we had last week, we again saw a MINK swimming and climbing around the large beaver lodge complex across the slough from Dog Central. Again, we saw the mink squirm into the pile of sticks. Definitely could indicate a den there.
Misses today included American Coot, Wilson's Snipe, Cooper's Hawk, Violet-green Swallow, and American Goldfinch (may have heard one).
For the day, 61 species. Adding BTPI and SAVS, we're at 83 species for the survey for 2025.
= Michael Hobbs |
Report for March 20, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
Our Spring Equinox survey turned out better than we expected. The weather immediately before the walk was *W*E*T*, and we mostly expected that to continue. But just in time for our 7:00 a.m. start time, the rain stopped and we had cloudy skies with occasional bits of sunshine until just after the survey completed. Especially the first hour and a half were very birdy, as was the Rowing Club at the end.
Highlights:
- Ten species of duck - Everything we would expect except Green-winged Teal
- Rufous Hummingbird - Got good looks at the Rowing Club near the only blooming Salmonberry we saw all morning. First of Year (FOY) for the survey
- Virginia Rail - Again, spontaneous "song" Kiddick-kiddick-kiddick from several spots on the far side of the slough
- Wilson's Snipe - Two on the far side of the slough below the weir, after a 3-week absence
- Double-crested Cormorant - Notable today because more than 30 were seen flying south towards the lake
- American Kestrel - A female flew over the Viewing Mound right after the survey as I was leaving the park (FOY)
- Hutton's Vireo - One near the windmill, near where I heard one on Tuesday
- Northern Shrike - Very sharp looking bird in the East Meadow
No sign of the SAY'S PHOEBE or RED CROSSBILLS that I saw on Tuesday.
Our best bird wasn't a bird, it was a MINK at the beaver lodge opposite Dog Central. The Mink was on the lodge, jumped into the water, came out again onto the lodge, and then appeared to squirm down inside the lodge. Our first Mink since 2018.
Misses today included Green-winged Teal, American Coot (first miss ever for Week 12), Short-billed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Cooper's Hawk, Purple Finch, and Western Meadowlark.
For the day, 56 species. For the year, adding Rufous Hummingbird and American Kestrel, we're at 81 species for the Thursday surveys.
= Michael Hobbs |
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