It did not feel like summer today. In absolute terms, the temps were okay (55-64 degrees), but with cloudy skies and a stiff wind, it was chilly. The wind made things difficult as usual. I hate wind. About a dozen of us started out at 5:30 for a pretty decent day.
Highlights:
AMERICAN BITTERN One seen briefly near the weir
Barn Owl Adult visible
in the nest box
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 faintly singing in Big Cottonwood
Forest
Purple Martin 6 at lake
Red-eyed Vireo 2-3 singing today!
(invisibly)
Lazuli Bunting Pair between
Compost Piles & model airplane field
Bullock's Oriole Male just
east of weir
Long-tailed Weasel Crossed trail near weir
The AMERICAN BITTERN was our first for 2009. We get bitterns usually about 3-4 times per year, and we've had them every month except December. They seem to occur slightly more often in May and June than in other months, but with little other discernable pattern.
We have not previously had PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER often during the peak breeding season; usually only as migrants. One, at least, was singing last Thursday, and was heard again Saturday, and then today. So maybe he's on territory.
Last Saturday, my son Tim and I put up two more gourds for PURPLE MARTINS on a piling visible from the lake platform. Today, a female (and later a male) was in the leftmost of the near (old) gourds, and three martins were perched on the crossbar of the new gourd pair. All together, I think we saw 6 martins from the lake platform. On Saturday, Tim and I also canoed over to the northeast corner of the lake, where I was surprised to see that someone had put up some new boxes, and possibly cleaned and refurbished some of the old boxes. In a very quick scan, we found martins in at least 6 of those boxes. So a banner year for nesting Purple Martins at Marymoor!
LOT OF BABY BIRDS were about today, including Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Osprey (baby(s?) on nest), Bald Eagle, Rufous Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Bushtit, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, and Brown-headed Cowbird. (Maybe some of the House Finch too?)
The weasel was very cute!
For the day, 54 species. For the year, 141?
== Michael
Juvenile Tree Swallow
Female Purple Martin
New gourds with 3 Purple Martins visiting
Singing Swainson's Thrush at the Rowing Club
Female (left) and male Purple Martins. Photos by Brian Dobbins, June 26.
Female Wood Duck with Ducklings. Photo by Brian Dobbins, June 26