Hi Tweets:
I really enjoy these weekly reports from Michael, especially after going on
one of his weekly trips. They are open to the public every Thurs. morning
at 7:30. Just meet him at the far end of the parking lot that is past the
pea patch (there is a sign). Some of you who have a vacation coming up
should attend one of these. I felt that it was like an Intermediate Birding
Class (101). Michael is enthusiastic and helped me a lot w/ my birding,
both observing and birding by ear. There are several varieties of sparrows
in Marymoor, and I learned to ID the Lincoln's Sparrow. Plus we got to
observe Accipiters. The park itself is huge and there is a very large,
untracked wetland. This is on the North end of Lake Sammamish.
Don't forget that this is where the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was seen. I think
I saw it briefly once when I was over there on another day, after Michael's
birdwalk. The bird was also seen on another area of Lake Sammamish later in
November.
Michael has been warning us that the water level is high. To be safe, take
some rubber boots. Be prepared for a 1.7 mile walk (pack a snack?). I
can't recommend this weekly outing enough for improving anyone's birding
skills. Thanks, Michael!
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines
206-824-7618
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Hobbs <Hummer at isomedia.com>
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Friday, December 17, 1999 11:53 AM
Subject: Marymoor Park Report (King Co. WA) For YESTERDAY, 12/16


>Sorry for the belated report.
>
>Yesterday was extremely pleasant at Marymoor -- it hardly rained at all, it
was
>warm, and the winds all passed overhead. The light was even pretty good.
>Surprisingly, I didn't need my snorkle, as the water was only at the 5 foot
>level (which translates into needing 12 inch tall boots to walk the whole
loop
>trail.
>
>Best sighting of the day were 3 RIVER OTTER in the slough opposite the
first
>dog swim area. Two of them were cavorting on the bank, then all three
slowly
>swam up the slough towards the lake.
>
>For birds, it was mostly the usual suspects for this time of year, but
there
>were a few notables:
>
>Green Heron 1 on the far side of the slough near
the
>lake
>Northern Pintail A flock of 38 flew overhead
>Downy Woodpecker Notably many - perhaps 5
>Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 at the Rowing Club
>Lincoln's Sparrow 1 at the Rowing Club
>Purple Finch Flock of ~25 !!! at the southwest
end
>of the dog area
>
>I believe that is the most Purple Finch I have seen anywhere anytime --
>certainly the most I've ever seen at Marymoor.
>
>AND LAST WEEK...
>
>I never sent out a report, but it was also unexpectedly nice, and like
>yesterday, nobody joined me but the birds. For highlights, there was a
>NORTHERN SHRIKE in the Pea Patch, and a HAIRY WOODPECKER at the Rowing
Club.
>
>Both weeks, I had 44 species each day. Not bad for December... (and the
>combined list was 50 species).
>
>== Michael Hobbs
>== Kirkland WA
>== hummer at isomedia.com
>
>
>