[Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2024-04-04

[Michael Hobbs via Tweeters]

Tweets - It was a special day today at Marymoor, though the weather was NOT
the special part.  It was especially dark all morning, and quite chilly.
Many birds were singing, but good looks were scarce.

We started off with donuts and bagels to celebrate the 30th birthday of the
Marymoor surveys.  That's about 1500 surveys, and I've made nearly that
many additional visits to the park over the last 30 years.  Some might ask
if I might be getting tired of going to the same place over and over and
over and over.

Well, it may be the same place, but there's always something new to see.
In fact, today we had A NEW BIRD FOR MARYMOOR PARK, the 245th species!
Just north of Fields 7-8-9 was a male WESTERN BLUEBIRD!  The survey needs
to continue at least until that number is up to 250!

Other highlights:
     Canada Goose - Appear to be attempting to nest on two Osprey nests and
on the eagle nest visible from the Lake Platform
     Northern Pintail??? - Flock of about 20 ducks that were almost
certainly NOPI but could have been wigeon
     Lesser Scaup - One female seen from the Lake Platform - First of Year
(FOY)
     Bushtit - Three nests observed, but no activity noted at any of them
     Purple Finch - Singing constantly heard, several birds, two seen
     White-throated Sparrow - Continuing, this time near the Dog Area
portapotties
     Western Meadowlark - 3-5 seen, including 3 near the Western Bluebird
     Orange-crowned Warbler - Two singing near the east end of the
boardwalk (FOY)
     Common Yellowthroat - At least one singing, heard from the Viewing
Mound.  Two seen on Monday (FOY)
     Yellow-rumped Warbler - Widespread and numerous, both Myrtle and
Audubon's, some singing

On my brief visit Monday afternoon, I had several birds not seen today:
BAND-TAILED PIGEON, TURKEY VULTURE (FOY), SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, RED-TAILED
HAWK (a pair doing a courtship flight), and BELTED KINGFISHER.

Missed both days: Wilson's Snipe, Osprey (should arrive any day now),
Red-breasted Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, and
Lincoln's Sparrow.

For the day, 59 species plus the mystery flying ducks.  Adding Lesser
Scaup, Turkey Vulture, Western Bluebird, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Common
Yellowthroat, we're at 91 species for the year.

= Michael Hobbs
= BirdMarymoor at gmail.com
= www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
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