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Friends of Marymoor Park
Recent Bird Sightings
Report for November 6, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
Startlingly, we had very nice weather pre-dawn, and for the first TWO HOURS of our survey today. The weather then slid into drizzle and rain, but still without high winds nor fog nor cold. It really wasn't a bad morning to be out.
The birds, though, were somewhat few. Nothing much unexpected at all. We did have a few mixed flocks, though none of them yielded a surprise.
Highlights:
- Gadwall - EIGHTEEN in the slough above the weir, with a few additional sightings. More than usual for Marymoor
- Bufflehead - A handful visible from the Lake Platform. The only previous fall sighting, back in mid-October, was one far out on the lake
- Great Blue Heron - We've never missed GBHE in Week 45 during the 31 years of the survey, but today we hung on to that string by finding ONE, below the weir
- Pileated Woodpecker - Female being very obvious again this morning
- Northern Shrike - East of the East Meadow
- Western Meadowlark - Five on the grass/gravel parking lot with starlings
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, Anna's Hummingbird, Killdeer, Western Grebe, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Cedar Waxwing, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, and Lincoln's Sparrow.
We managed just 49 species.
= Michael Hobbs |
Report for October 30, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
There's nothing quite as penetrating as cold fog, and that's what we had this morning. Otherwise, we had nice weather and a fine walk for my birthday. Birds were somewhat plentiful, but hard to see.
Highlights:
- Greater White-fronted Goose - Two adults with Canadas near the mansion
- Greater Scaup - At least one, maybe four, flying past the Rowing Club dock. Others could have been other Aythya ducks. First of Year for GRSC for the survey! (FOY)
- Hooded Merganser - Lone male showed up at the Rowing Club pond. First in 10 weeks!
- Pileated Woodpecker - Female calling from INSIDE the nest hole! Joined later by a 2nd bird
- Merlin - One or two quick flybys
- Northern Shrike - Adult in East Meadow, briefly
- White-throated Sparrow - Glimpsed in the NW corner of the Dog Area
- Western Meadowlark - 10+ continue
- BREWER'S BLACKBIRD - Pair south of the Velodrome (FOY)
BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS are not frequently seen at Marymoor, and have been completely absent some years.
Misses today included Bufflehead, American Coot, California Gull (possibly present among fog-shrouded flock at sunrise), Western Grebe, Pine Siskin, and Lincoln's Sparrow.
For the day, 59 species, though 10+ were heard-only. Adding the two FOY birds, we're at 133 species for 2025 for the survey.
= Michael Hobbs |
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Can you spot the bird through the fog?
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Male Belted Kingfisher
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Report for October 23, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
Perhaps we should have started at 8:00 a.m. instead of 7:30. With sunrise not until 7:38, and with overcast skies, it was quite a while before the birds were awake and visible. It never did get birdy, though it did get nearly sunny before the end of the walk. Windless and warm, with no precipitation, but quiet except for the robins and crows.
Highlights:
- Short-billed Gull - One or maybe a few among the dawn gulls on the grass fields. First of Fall (FOF)
- Northern Shrike - "Other Matt" photographed one at the south end of the East Meadow, the rest of us missed it
- American Robin - Super-ubiquitous. 20+ seen every time we looked anywhere
- Western Meadowlark - 19, or maybe 20, on the grass/gravel parking area north of the Viewing Mound
And that's about it for highlights, except for two COYOTES across the slough below the weir.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, California Gull (though there may well have been some in the gulls while it was still too dark to really see), Pine Siskin, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Yellow-rumped Warbler (!).
We did manage 54 species today, but at least 9 of those were heard-only, and about 15 were represented by only 1 or 2 individuals.
= Michael Hobbs |
Report for October 16, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
My car reported 34 degrees pre-dawn, but in patches it was below freezing. There was frost on the boardwalk railings and on the grass in the East Meadow. Once the sun rose it did warm up well (20 degree shift by noon). It was a really beautiful day, though it did slowly cloud up. Birdy at times. Several First of Fall (FOF) birds.
Highlights:
- Green-winged Teal - 3+ in the slough (FOF)
- American Coot - 2 in the slough near the lake (FOF)
- Double-crested Cormorant - About 20 flew up the slough towards the lake (FOF)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk - Juvenile near the start of the boardwalk
- Cooper's Hawk - One juvenile harassing (and harassed by) crows. We also had 1-2 accipidrine hawks we could not get to species
- Pileated Woodpecker - Heard several times, seen both at the beginning and towards the end of the walk
- Bushtit - Flock of ~50 near the mansion. It can be hard to count that long a stream of tiny birds
- White-throated Sparrow - One in blackberries and alders near Dog Area portapotties. First of Year (FOY)
- Western Meadowlark - Several in the NE part of the park, including some vocalizing
- Orange-crowned Warbler - One near southernmost dog swim beach - Quite bright
A late scan of the lake turned up a single male BUFFLEHEAD (FOF).
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, California Gull, Western Grebe, Merlin, and Cedar Waxwing.
For the day, 58 species. For the year, adding White-throated Sparrow, we're at 131 species for the survey
= Michael Hobbs |
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Savannah Sparrow, Pea Patch. Photo by Kris Anderson
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Bushtit near the mansion. Photo by Kris Anderson
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Report for October 9, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
The weather forecast might have scared off some people, since we were only three people today. Lo and behold, there was only about 40 minutes of noticeable precipitation, and while it was very dark at the start, we actually saw our shadows before the end. Temps were quite reasonable, and there was no wind. It wasn't particularly birdy, but the walk was definitely not a waste of time.
Highlights:
- Greater White-fronted Goose - 13, all adults, on Fields 7-8-9 with about 100 Cackling Geese. First of Fall (FOF)
- American Wigeon - One male above the weir (FOF)
- Ring-necked Duck - One just above the weir (FOF)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk - Adult at the south end of the East Meadow, harassed by crows. First of Year (FOY) for the survey
- Northern Shrike - One north of Fields 7-8-9 (FOF). Tied for the 6th-earliest fall sighting for shrike
- American Pipit - At least two flying over Fields 7-8-9
- Fox Sparrow - Notably widespread and numerous, several singing and several good looks (not just heard-only, nor merely skulking deep under the bushes)
- White-crowned Sparrow - Both gambelii and pugetensis song-types heard
- Western Meadowlark - Six or more, north of Fields 7-8-9 and on the grass & gravel lot to the east
The Pea Patch was notably full of birds today, but we didn't manage to spot any rarities amongst the many White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Song, and Savannah Sparrows, juncos, finches, robins, crows, and blackbirds.
Misses today included Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Western Grebe, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Harrier, Cedar Waxwing, and Purple Finch.
For the day, 55 species. Adding the Sharp-shinned Hawk, I believe we're at 130 species for 2025.
= Michael Hobbs |
Report for October 2, 2025 Birding at Marymoor
It was a pleasant morning, with yesterday's wind and rain having cleared out long before sunrise. We had a dark overcast to start, steady clearing throughout the morning, and a sweater was sufficient for warmth. What we lacked this morning were birds; it was very quiet, with few sightings of note.
Highlights:
- Canada Goose - ONE. And, our only goose, despite having had Cackling Geese the last two weeks
- Northern Shoveler - One female above the weir; flew off before most could see it. First of Fall (FOF)
- Gadwall - Female with three males in the slough. The males were displaying with head's puffed up. Lots of neck stretching and posing
- Common Merganser - Seven or more around the weir
- Turkey Vulture - Several waiting for warm air in tall trees near the lake, probably 7+ total
- Pileated Woodpecker - Finally saw a male, just south of the heronry; he'd been calling regularly for at least half an hour before we saw him
- Violet-green Swallow - Dozens high in the air over the park, perhaps 75 total
Today was the first time we've had multiple vultures in trees. In fact, it may well be the first time we've had ANY vulture in a tree. I searched through checklist comments as well as all the photographs, and none indicate perching. And this was just the 5th time with more than 5 vultures reported. Three times we've had 20+ kettling. All of these 5+ days have been between Sept 21 and Oct 6.
A late scan of the lake turned up one CALIFORNIA GULL (FOF).
Misses were numerous: Cackling Goose, Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Wilson's Snipe, Green Heron, American Barn Owl, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Pipit, Western Meadowlark, and Common Yellowthroat. Our only warbler was one (maybe 2) heard-only Yellow-rumps.
For the day, just 49 species.
= Michael Hobbs |
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One of the perched Turkey Vultures. There were at least three in this tree.
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