Marymoor Blog

Thu, 05 Nov 2009

20091105

Report for November 5, 2009

Weird weather was the most notable thing this morning. It was overcast to start, and fairly warm. Just before 8:00, we had ten seconds of dramatic sunlight streaming down on the last of the beautiful fall foliage, but with deep, dark clouds in the background. We had moments of sprinkles, but the rain held off until 11:00. Between 8:00 and 10:00, we were periodically hit by puffs of incredibly warm air, occasional puffs of cold air, and sometimes both within seconds. The wind picked up gradually, though it faded about when the rain started, thankfully.

A lot of the birds might have been battening down the hatches, I don't know. Things were pretty quiet for a long time. We did have a huge set of flocks (~500) CACKLING GEESE overhead, with some landing. And later we had an enormous mixed flock of BUSHTIT, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, one or two CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and a couple of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and BEWICK'S WRENS. That flock, or other(s) with identical constituents, seemed to follow us around (or we them) for quite some time.

Highlights:

Greater White-fronted Goose        2 with Cacklers near the climbing rock
Cackling Goose                            ~500, including non-minima subspecies
Band-tailed Pigeon                        Flock of 14 - unusual for November
Barn Owl                                    Matt & Scott had several sightings early
Northern Shrike                            Prominent in East Meadow
Winter Wren                               Singing east of weir
Varied Thrush                               First of Fall - landed in large cottonwood

Mallard was our only species of duck! (Though there were a couple of flybys that might have been Northern Shoveler and Common Goldeneye respectively). We had none of the recent "good" birds - Horned Lark, White-throated Sparrow, or American Tree Sparrow - all seen in the last week.

For mammals, besides the usual Eastern Cottontail and Eastern Gray Squirrel, we had a Raccoon asleep in a tree near Dog Central, and a dead Townsend's Mole near the windmill.

For the day, 52 species.

== Michael

Our dramatic 10-seconds of sunshine

At least 20 Cedar Waxwings near the weir

Cackling Geese
Cackling Geese, but not of the minima subspecies

Raccoon near Dog Central
Dead Townsend's Mole near the windmill

Ollie's photo of the White-throated Sparrow, 2009-11-02
Ollie's photo of the White-throated Sparrow, 2009-11-02

Anne Lawrence's great shot of the White-throated Sparrow, 2009-11-02
Ollie's photo of a male Bufflehead at the Rowing Club, 2009-11-02

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Weird weather was the most notable thing this morning. It was overcast to start, and fairly warm. Just before 8:00, we had ten seconds of dramatic sunlight streaming down on the last of the beautiful fall foliage, but with deep, dark clouds in the background. We had moments of sprinkles, but the rain held off until 11:00. Between 8:00 and 10:00, we were periodically hit by puffs of incredibly warm air, occasional puffs of cold air, and sometimes both within seconds. The wind picked up gradually, though it faded about when the rain started, thankfully. A lot of the birds might have been battening down the hatches, I don't know. Things were pretty quiet for a long time. We did have a huge set of flocks (~500) CACKLING GEESE overhead, with some landing. And later we had an enormous mixed flock of BUSHTIT, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, one or two CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and a couple of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and BEWICK'S WRENS. That flock, or other(s) with identical constituents, seemed to follow us around (or we them) for quite some time. Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose 2 with Cacklers near the climbing rock Cackling Goose ~500, including non-minima subspecies Band-tailed Pigeon Flock of 14 - unusual for November Barn Owl Matt & Scott had several sightings early Northern Shrike Prominent in East Meadow Winter Wren Singing east of weir Varied Thrush First of Fall - landed in large cottonwood Mallard was our only species of duck! (Though there were a couple of flybys that might have been Northern Shoveler and Common Goldeneye respectively). We had none of the recent "good" birds - Horned Lark, White-throated Sparrow, or American Tree Sparrow - all seen in the last week. For mammals, besides the usual Eastern Cottontail and Eastern Gray Squirrel, we had a Raccoon asleep in a tree near Dog Central, and a dead Townsend's Mole near the windmill. For the day, 52 species. == Michael	Our dramatic 10-seconds of sunshine At least 20 Cedar Waxwings near the weir
Cackling Geese	Cackling Geese, but not of the minima subspecies
Raccoon near Dog Central	Dead Townsend's Mole near the windmill
Ollie's photo of the White-throated Sparrow, 2009-11-02	Ollie's photo of the White-throated Sparrow, 2009-11-02
Anne Lawrence's great shot of the White-throated Sparrow, 2009-11-02	Ollie's photo of a male Bufflehead at the Rowing Club, 2009-11-02