Report from Brian Bell:
Today was the15th anniversary of his starting weekly walks at Marymoor Park. Michael couldn't be there today, but the day couldn't have been better. Started out cool (43F), with some overcast -but essentially nice. It only got better from there. Lots of bird activity all over the park today with birds singing, carrying nesting material, and constructing nest, and occupying nests.
It must have been in celebration of the day, but we had 21 people on the walk today and all enjoyed some great views of some very nice birds.
Some notable birds:
2 Ospreys at the nest
Savannah Sparrows singing all over the East Meadow
Barred Owl carrying a crow early at the south end of the East Meadow
Barn Owl on the nest box near the mansion
American Goldfinch - bright males showing up
Bushtits constructing at least three nests
Wilson's Snipe - at least 7 along the river
Great Blue Heron - one in park and 9 just north of the park
Cooper's Hawk - immature
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Downy Woodpecker pair
Hairy Woodpecker pair - with some interactions with the Downy pair
Red-breasted Sapsucker - at least 4 along the Cottonwood Forest trail
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1st of year
American Pipit - on soccer fields
American Kestrel - male
Eurasian Collared-Dove - on Snag Row
Mountain Chickadee - probably only 2nd for park
Black-throated Gray Warbler - beautiful male, 1st for the year
Green Heron - two at Rowing Club Ponds
Hammond's Flycatcher
Matt Bartels and I enjoyed subbing for Michael today, and definitely enjoyed the 72 species we saw today.
Brian H. Bell, Woodinville, WA
Thanks to all the photographers who sent me photos! - Michael
Scott Ramos' sunrise photo
Knut Hansen caught this Marsh Wren singing
Knut Hansen caught some interactions between a Downy Woodpecker and...
...a Tree Swallow that seemed to want to nest in the same tree
Ollie Oliver got some photographs of a Mountain Chickadee
This is only the 2nd or 3rd time Mountain Chickadee has been seen at Marymoor
Ollie's photo of the Eurasian Collared-Dove in Snag Row
David Maloney's gem of a photo of a pair of Tree Swallows
Ollie caught this front view of the Hammond's Flycatcher
...and this side view
Knut Hansen's portrait of the Hammond's
Ollie's back view of the Hammond's shows the long wings and long primary extension
A gorgeous male Black-throated Gray Warbler...
...two photos by Knut Hansen
Knut also caught this Black-capped Chickadee...
...excavating a nest hole
David Maloney's male "Audubon"-race Yellow-rumped Warbler..
...and a male "Myrtle's"-race Yellow-rumped Warbler to go with it.
David's photo of a Golden-crowned Sparrow shows just how spiffy these get before they leave for their breeding grounds
Another one by David Maloney - a Ruby-crowned Kinglet