[Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2024-12-26

[Michael Hobbs via Tweeters]

Tweets - Our Boxing Day survey, and our last survey for 2024, was not as
bad as expected.  The wind and rain were less severe than the forecast, and
there were even stretches without either.  It was, however, VERY dark for
the first hour.  Not terribly birdy, but there were a couple of surprises.

Highlights:
     Western Grebe - Two seen well from the Lake Platform
     Red-breasted Sapsucker - One at the Rowing Club; first in 7 weeks
     Merlin - TWO streaked across the Dog Meadow, one right after the other
     Northern Shrike - One in the East Meadow
     TREE SWALLOW - One seen flying near the Lake Platform. White-bellied,
and we were able to see it long enough to rule out VGSW

We have never had a fall or winter TREE SWALLOW before, though places like
Nisqually have reports every few years.  The only swallows we've ever had
November-February have been Barn Swallow a few times.  Today's swallow was
a huge surprise, except that the weather has been so warm there are still
bugs flying.

Only one time previously have we had two MERLIN together, on 26-Sep-2002.
Only two other times have we had multiple sightings that plausibly could
have indicated two birds.  The other 299 times have been solos.  Just
before today's Merlins, two adult RED-TAILED HAWKS were circling over the
Dog Meadow, and then a BALD EAGLE cruised past.

Misses today were numerous:  Cackling Goose (indeed, we only had 2 or maybe
a few Canadas), Green-winged Teal, American Coot, Wilson's Snipe,
Ring-billed Gull, Cooper's Hawk, Bushtit, Marsh Wren, Lincoln's Sparrow,
and Red-winged Blackbird.

We did manage 47 species, though, which didn't seem too bad.

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