We had a FABULOUS Earth Day at Marymoor today. The
weather was cloudy and chilly, though there was a bit of clearing and
warmth very late in the morning. But it was phenominally birdy, with
little wind and no rain. The best birds were two NASHVILLE WARBLERS;
and a WESTERN KINGBIRD at the Compost Piles.
Highlights:
Common Goldeneye 2 females - probably last
'til fall
Bald Eagle Large numbers - at least 13
Vaux's Swift 2 or 3, maybe. First of Year
(FOY)
Five woodpecker species (Pileated was heard-only though)
WESTERN KINGBIRD At Compost Piles
Cliff Swallow FOY (though actually, I had one
4/20)
SWAINSON'S THRUSH Great looks, and came in to SWTH on iPod
Hermit Thrush 3-4 - FOY
NASHVILLE WARBLER 2, both with flocks of Yellow-rumps in willows
Yellow-rumped Warbler Tons, both races. Some females
Fox Sparrow Only 1 - maybe last 'til fall
Lincoln's Sparrow One at Pea Patch
White-crowned Sparrow Large movement of
gambelii, some pugetensis
Western Meadowlark Three in East Meadow
Afterwards, I went to the 187th Ave. viewpoint off East Lake Samm
Parkway, and walked north a bit up the East Lake Sammamish Trail along
the east edge of the park. I added FIVE species:
Common Loon 2 on lake, also seen Tuesday
California Gull
PURPLE MARTIN At least 1
Brown Creeper
House Sparrow
VAUX'S SWIFT was also seen Tuesday, 4/20, by Sharon Aagaard. The only
earlier sighting was 4/17/2008
WESTERN KINGBIRD - this is our earliest sighting ever, beating last
year's by a day.
PURPLE MARTIN - this is our earliest sighting ever. Previous first
sightings 4/29/08, and 4/30/09
NASHVILLE WARBLER - this is our second earliest sighting, a day later
than last year's record
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - large numbers (well over 50). Males outnumbered
females about 10-1, though this represents an increase in the numbers of
females from previous weeks. Audubon's outnumbered Myrtle's by about
3-1.
Our big miss today was RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, though both Sharon and I
had them on 4/20. Ruby-crowns often stick around for *at least* one
more week, though in 2004 our last one was on 4/21. We'll have to see
if we get any more this year.
For the day, 70 species, plus the 5 extras after the walk! Also, from
Tuesday, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Cooper's Hawk to make 77 for the week
(or about 1/2 the species we'll get for the whole year).
For 2010 so far: 105 species (adding Common Loon,
California Gull, Vaux's Swift, Western Kingbird, Purple Martin, Cliff
Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, and Nashville Warbler this
week).
== Michael
Bad photo of the first Nashville Warbler of
the morning
Western Kingbird at the Compost Piles
Western Kingbird
2 of 3 Western Meadowlarks at the East Meadow
Savannah Sparrow in the East Meadow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Same guy, different lighting, and with his crown mostly down
Black-capped Chicadee
Barn Owl in the nest box
After the walk, Lillian Reis tried to find the Western Kingbird at the Compost Piles,
and instead found this American Pipit
Lillian took this photo of a Red-tailed Hawk with what looks like a snake, 2010-04-16
More great photos of the Anna's X Rufous Hummingbird hybrid...
...both taken by Michael Hamilton, 2010-04-18