Heavy overcast for most of the morning made it rather dark for seeing birds sometimes.  Throw in some wind, many trucks driving through the Dog Area dumping hogs fuel for the paths, and construction closing the Rowing Club, and you might the we'd have had a mediocre day at the park. NOT SO.

We had birds in clusters.  Much of the time they were very active, which made seeing sometimes difficult.  But it was clear that fall is in full swing, with many migrants, returning wintering birds, and great mixed flocks the way you get in the fall.

Our best mixed flock came just before, and at, the east footbridge, south of the East Meadow.  In about 100 feet of path, we had at least 29 species of bird, including 2 species of flycatcher, 5 species of warbler, 5 species of sparrow, plus WARBLING VIREO, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and WESTERN TANAGER, as well as many more.  Things quieted there after a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and an AMERICAN KESTREL went past.

It reminded me very much of a day back in the early years of my Marymoor walk.  Here's a quote from my Tweeters report that day:

"Quiet day until I got near the east footbridge where, in a 30 yard stretch of path, I encountered heaps of birds.  I spent around 15 minutes walking that very short distance, and saw approximately 240 individual birds comprising 18 species!"

The date of that trip?   September 12, 1996.  Deja vu.

Highlights from today:

Seven raptor day: OSPREY, BALD EAGLE (often not seen this time of year), NORTHERN HARRIER juvenile over boardwalk and lake platform, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (at least 2), COOPER'S HAWK juvenile, RED-TAILED HAWK, and AMERICAN KESTREL.

Killdeer                                    37 counted in NE corner fields
Barn Owl                                 Scott had at least 2, calling, predawn
COMMON NIGHTHAWK    1 over Lot D, about 6:40 a.m.
Western Wood-Pewee             1 or 2
Willow Flycatcher                    3 or 4
Pacific-slope Flycatcher           1 or 2
Warbling Vireo                        3+
Orange-crowned Warbler        At least 10, some gray-headed
Yellow Warbler                       Close to 10, some VERY drab
Yellow-rumped Warbler          5+
Black-throated Gray Warbler  3+
MacGillivray's Warbler            3
Common Yellowthroat             Many
Wilson's Warbler                     5+
Western Tanager                      1
Lincoln's Sparrow                    4+, scattered
Golden-crowned Sparrow        3

The COMMON NIGHTHAWK was my first, personally, for the park. Nighthawks have been reported 4 times previously, all between the 17th and the 20th of  September, all between 2004 and 2007.

Afterwards, I went to the lake viewpoint, since we'd had a few birds too far to see from the lake platform.  There were WOOD DUCKS near the northeast part of the park.  But out in the north end of the lake were PIED-BILLED (5+), HORNED (2), RED-NECKED (1), and WESTERN (1) GREBES, all of which would have been visible and identifiable with a scope from the lake platform. (We'd actually seen the PBGR and WEGR on the regular walk).

Two COYOTES were howling at each other before 6:00, according to Scott and  Brian.  And Brian found a PACIFIC TREEFROG hopping on the ground near the mansion.

For the day, 69 species!  The Horned and Red-necked Grebe, and the Common Nighthawk were new birds for the park year list.

It was a great day.

== Michael

Steller's Jay.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

American Kestrel.  Photo by Ollie Oliver
Northern Flicker.  Photo by Ollie Oliver

Very colorful Sharp-shinned Hawk.  Photo by Ollie Oliver