Marymoor Blog

Fri, 10 Apr 2009

20090326

Report for March 26, 2009

Oh how nice it was today. Cold to start, but sunny. The thin fog burned off quickly, and while some thin, high overcast persisted, we could see our shadows all morning. It was pleasant AND good birding and spring is actually beginning to happen.
Highlights:

Ring-necked Duck               Males with rings very visible at RC
Horned Grebe                     One mostly in breeding plumage
Red-tailed Hawk                  Must be on eggs on odd snag nest
Barn Owl                             Must be on eggs in nest box
Western Screech-Owl          Heard from within park, to the west
LONG-EARED OWL         Perched low and in the open in Dog Area
Rufous Hummingbird            Heard 2-4 birds, never got a look
Red-breasted Sapsucker      One drumming near start of boardwalk
Downy Woodpecker            Two near start of boardwalk
Hairy Woodpecker               Northeast of boardwalk
Northern Shrike                    Seen in model airplane field
American Crow                    With nest materials near mansion
American Robin                    With nest materials near mansion
Varied Thrush                       Heard near mansion
Yellow-rumped Warbler       Some were singing
Townsend's Warbler             South side of mansion
SAVANNAH SPARROW   First of spring, Compost Piles

The LONG-EARED OWL, which we originally identified as a Great Horned Owl, spent the entire morning low in a Red Alder a bit east northeast of the weir. See the blog for photos.

When we were at the lake, Sharon thought she'd seen a HORNED GREBE. It disappeared before we could verify. So at the end of our walk, I visited the cabana for another look. While there, I had great looks at a pair of HOODED MERGANSER, as well as three COMMON MERGANSER. And, with my scope, I was able to find a HORNED GREBE about half-way into breeding plumage. It would have been visible from the lake platform, but would probably have required a scope for ID.

Sharon saw a LONG-TAILED WEASEL near the South Lot kiosk. Some people watched an EASTERN COTTONTAIL get precariously close to the Great Horned Owl. There were both a RED-EARED SLIDER and a PAINTED TURTLE sunning themselves at the Rowing Club.

New for 2009 were HORNED GREBE, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and SAVANNAH SPARROW. In addition, I saw a male NORTHERN HARRIER last Sunday.

So for today, we were at an even 60 species. For the year, we're up to 94 species.

== Michael

Dewy spider web in the early morning fog

Long-eared Owl as seen from the slough trail

Closer view of the Long-eared Owl

And a bit of a back view. Photo by Ollie Oliver.

Dave Templeton's fabulous photo of the owl
(His lens is just a slight bit bigger than mine :) )

Singing Spotted Towhee

"Pussy" Willows along the edge of the Dog Meadow

Brown Creeper near the start of the boardwalk

Red-breasted Sapsucker preening near the start of the boardwalk

Another shot of the Red-breasted Sapsucker

Savannah Sparrow at the Compost Piles

Violets in a tree near the Stage

Note the burgundy neck ring on the right of the two male Ring-necked Ducks
Photo by Ollie Oliver

Grace found a Cooper's Hawk in Snag Row which Ollie photographed
Ollie's photo of a Canada Goose in the slough

Northern Shrike, Ollie Oliver, 3/29/09
Northern Shrike, Ollie Oliver, 3/29/09

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Oh how nice it was today. Cold to start, but sunny. The thin fog burned off quickly, and while some thin, high overcast persisted, we could see our shadows all morning. It was pleasant AND good birding and spring is actually beginning to happen. Highlights: Ring-necked Duck Males with rings very visible at RC Horned Grebe One mostly in breeding plumage Red-tailed Hawk Must be on eggs on odd snag nest Barn Owl Must be on eggs in nest box Western Screech-Owl Heard from within park, to the west LONG-EARED OWL Perched low and in the open in Dog Area Rufous Hummingbird Heard 2-4 birds, never got a look Red-breasted Sapsucker One drumming near start of boardwalk Downy Woodpecker Two near start of boardwalk Hairy Woodpecker Northeast of boardwalk Northern Shrike Seen in model airplane field American Crow With nest materials near mansion American Robin With nest materials near mansion Varied Thrush Heard near mansion Yellow-rumped Warbler Some were singing Townsend's Warbler South side of mansion SAVANNAH SPARROW First of spring, Compost Piles The LONG-EARED OWL, which we originally identified as a Great Horned Owl, spent the entire morning low in a Red Alder a bit east northeast of the weir. See the blog for photos. When we were at the lake, Sharon thought she'd seen a HORNED GREBE. It disappeared before we could verify. So at the end of our walk, I visited the cabana for another look. While there, I had great looks at a pair of HOODED MERGANSER, as well as three COMMON MERGANSER. And, with my scope, I was able to find a HORNED GREBE about half-way into breeding plumage. It would have been visible from the lake platform, but would probably have required a scope for ID. Sharon saw a LONG-TAILED WEASEL near the South Lot kiosk. Some people watched an EASTERN COTTONTAIL get precariously close to the Great Horned Owl. There were both a RED-EARED SLIDER and a PAINTED TURTLE sunning themselves at the Rowing Club. New for 2009 were HORNED GREBE, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and SAVANNAH SPARROW. In addition, I saw a male NORTHERN HARRIER last Sunday. So for today, we were at an even 60 species. For the year, we're up to 94 species. == Michael	Dewy spider web in the early morning fog Long-eared Owl as seen from the slough trail
Closer view of the Long-eared Owl	And a bit of a back view. Photo by Ollie Oliver.
Dave Templeton's fabulous photo of the owl (His lens is just a slight bit bigger than mine :) )	Singing Spotted Towhee
	"Pussy" Willows along the edge of the Dog Meadow
Brown Creeper near the start of the boardwalk	Red-breasted Sapsucker preening near the start of the boardwalk
Another shot of the Red-breasted Sapsucker	Savannah Sparrow at the Compost Piles
Violets in a tree near the Stage	Note the burgundy neck ring on the right of the two male Ring-necked Ducks Photo by Ollie Oliver
Grace found a Cooper's Hawk in Snag Row which Ollie photographed	Ollie's photo of a Canada Goose in the slough
Northern Shrike, Ollie Oliver, 3/29/09	Northern Shrike, Ollie Oliver, 3/29/09