Date: 4/17/25 4:37 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2025-04-17
Tweets - It was a gorgeous morning without a cloud in the sky nor a breath of wind. Pre-dawn was stunning. But clear skies overnight mean a cold start; I wasn't really prepared for 36 degrees and frost on the ground. I'd been more worried I'd get too warm - it was 56 degrees when we finished. It's hard to dress for a 20-degree swing. The dawn chorus was loud, varied, and lasted at least an hour after sunrise. At least 20 species were heard singing!
Highlights: Great Blue Heron - Grum-grum-grum-grum calls from the nests indicate young have hatched Bald Eagle - So many sightings, including a juvenile in the heronry. Maybe 7-9 eagles seen today Merlin - A couple of quick fly-bys PURPLE MARTIN - At least one male checking out the gourds. Maybe another one heard to the east. First of Year (FOY) Barn Swallow - One at the East Meadow, two at the lake late (FOY) Bushtit - We now know of at least nests CHIPPING SPARROW - One seen singing just east of the Dog Area portapotties (FOY) Brown-headed Cowbird - Finally confirmed for the survey for the year. Several males seen and heard (FOY) Orange-crowned Warbler - Probably at least three seen singing (FOY)
A late scan of the lake turned up a host of species we hadn't seen earlier: Ring-necked Duck - One pair. Any seen after next week will be notably late Bufflehead - Two males. Might still be around for a couple more weeks AMERICAN COOT - Two under the cabana, first since February Pied-billed Grebe - Only one remaining COMMON LOON - Confirmation of a bird seen far out from the platform on the main survey (FOY)
Both AMERICAN COOT and PIED-BILLED GREBE used to be regular nesting species at Marymoor, but have only rarely been noted during breeding season the last several years.
Misses today included Rock and Band-tailed Pigeon (though two *pigeon sp.* were glimpsed), Double-crested Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher, and Cliff Swallow.
For the day, 61 species. For the year, adding the six species noted above, we're at 94 species for the survey in 2025.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
