Date: 6/18/26 12:40 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2026-06-18
Tweets - Gorgeous day to be out, with comfortable temps, sunshine, and just a hint of a breeze. This time of year, we aren't expecting surprises, as almost all the birds we find are nesting in the park. That was mostly true today, but there were a couple of surprises.
Highlights: Canada Goose - Just four, and not seen until the Rowing Club Virginia Rail - One or two responded. June responses are unusual Spotted Sandpiper - One called as it flew, unseen, down the slough Gulls - Four with black wingtips. Possibly California? Cooper's Hawk - One from the Viewing Mound Red-tailed Hawk - Twice seen, both times massively mobbed by crows Pileated Woodpecker - One across the slough from below the weir Merlin - One flew over the concert venue a little before 6:00 a.m. Swainson's Thrush - Actually SAW two, heard many more Orange-crowned Warbler - One singing, unseen, at the Rowing Club
At the Rowing Club, Mason and I heard a large number of twittering birds. We were hoping to add BUSHTIT and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE to our day list (which we did, though Bushtits remained invisible). But there were BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, BEWICK'S WRENS, DOWNY WOODPECKERS, SONG-SPARROWS, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH as well. We figured they must be mobbing a predator. Finally, Mason spotted a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL a good 20 yards into the shrubbery.
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was heard once, back in January, but otherwise have not been noticed in the park this year. This bird appeared to be an adult. Based on timings of past breeding within the park, the presence of an adult mid-June does not necessarily indicate breeding within the park this year; young should have fledged already, if only recently. This sighting does make it seem more probable that they nested a least near the park this year, though.
Baby birds were everywhere, complete with difficult-to-identify baby sounds. MALLARD and WOOD DUCK ducklings were numerous. Other babies included GREAT BLUE HERON (many juvies fishing), AMERICAN CROW, BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, PURPLE MARTIN, HOUSE FINCH, DARK-EYED JUNCO, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. This is also a season where many birds are best described as Breeding-plumage Male vs. Female/Juvenile. For instance, the hummingbirds we saw were not breeding males, but age was otherwise indeterminate in the brief looks we got. Same goes for COMMON YELLOWTHROATS.
Anyway, for the day, 61 species, but nothing new for the year.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
