A very nice Summer Solstice at Marymoor today featured a few surprises. Temps were middling (48-66 degrees), sunny to light overcast, no wind, a little fog early. Lots of nesting activity and young to confuse us.

Highlights:

Cinnamon Teal                Pair seen from lake platform
Pied-billed Grebe            Near teal - first since April
Green Heron                   Several sightings, all of single bird
Virginia Rail                     Brian and Scott heard 1 from boardwalk
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 at Rowing Club
RED-EYED VIREO       SW corner of Dog Meadow, singing loudly
Purple Martin                  Female at gourds, male over Pea Patch
Lazuli Bunting                  Multiple singing males
Bullock's Oriole              First-year male singing

The CINNAMON TEAL and RED-EYED VIREO were new for the year.

The BULLOCK'S ORIOLE was singing a strange song that sounded exactly like what you might imagine if an oriole were to sing the call of the Common Poorwill. Really. It started with a couple of typical oriole beeping sounds, then said POOR-WILL in an oriole accent, then added a few trailing oriole beeps. And it repeated this song over and over and over.

Mammals seen early included Coyote and Mule Deer.

For the day, 57 species. For the year, we're up to at least 142.

== Michael Hobbs
== birdmarymoor@frontier.com

Marsh Wren.  Photo by Scott Ramos

Male Common Yellowthroat singing atop a Red Elderberry.  Photo by Scott Ramos