Been a busy week at Marymoor, so I'm putting up a blog posting in advance of tomorrow's regular survey.
Spring brings a bunch of new birds that we haven't seen all winter.
Occasionally, it brings something that hasn't been seen at the park at all.
The new park bird was SANDHILL CRANES.
There were two reports, actually. First, I received a belated report that Jan McGruder had seen two on the grass soccer fields on Saturday, April 3. Before I'd even had a chance to digest that report, I heard that Charlie Wright, Ryan Merrill, and Evan Houston had two fly over the Rowing Club on April 11. Ryan got a couple of photos of those.
Other new birds for the year found by Charlie, Ryan, and Evan:
Northern Harrier
Barn Swallow
Orange-crowned Warbler
Evening Grosbeak (fly-over)
I've also seen a couple of new birds for the year:
4/11: American Pipit - flock of
25 near model airplane field
4/12: California Quail - heard calling at the Rowing Club
Other good birds seen:
4/10: Sharp-shinned Hawk and
Merlin - Charlie et. al. at the Rowing Club
4/11: Northern Shoveler - small flock flyby
4/11: Western Meadowlark - at the model airplane field
4/12: Cooper's Hawk
4/12: Townsend's Warbler
== Michael
Based on size disparity, these appear to be
a 'Lesser' and a 'Greater' Sandhill Crane
Two quick shots by Ryan Merrill documented this rare species for King
County
Northern Shrike looking fine...
...East Meadow, 2010-04-11
Fox Sparrow, 2010-04-09. Photo by Lillian Reis
Pine Siskin 2010-04-13
Savannah Sparrow, 2010-04-13
Orange-crowned Warbler, 2010-04-14
Wait, is that a Golden Eagle????
Crap, no. It's a model airplane! !@#@$%