Greetings,

Did my weekly Green Lake count from 6-730 this morning. Hazy sunshine and
about 45F.

As usual, where applicable the number before the comma are males, after
female, or as indicated. See also notes below.


GREBES, PODICIPEDIDAE
Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 3
CORMORANTS, PHALACROCORACIDAE
Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 1
HERONS, ARDEIDAE
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) 2 (in flight)
Canada goose (Branta canadensis) 26adult, 10 gosling
domesticated goose 6
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
American wigeon (Anas americana) 1,0
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 16,4
Ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris) 1,1
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 1,7
domesticated duck 6
RAILS, RALLIDAE
American coot (Fulica americana) 28
PLOVERS, CHARADRIIDAE
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 1
GULLS & TERNS, LARIDAE
Glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens) 23
Caspian tern (Sterna caspia) 1
PIGEONS & DOVES, COLUMBIDAE
Rock dove (Columba livia) 16
WOODPECKERS, PICIDAE
Downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 2,1
Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) 2,1
CORVIDS, CORVIDAE
American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 24
SWALLOWS, HIRUNDINIDAE
Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 6
Violet-green swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) 22
Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) 4
Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) 2
CHICKADEES, PARIDAE
Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 32
BUSHTITS, AEGITHALIDAE
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) 10
NUTHATCHES, SITTIDAE
Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) 2
THRUSHES, TURDIDAE
American robin (Turdus migratorius) 6
STARLINGS, STURNIDAE
European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 48
WOOD WARBLERS, PARULIDAE
Yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata) 66
SPARROWS, EMBERIZIDAE
Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 6
BLACKBIRDS & ORIOLES, ICTERIDAE
Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 20
Brewer's blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) 11
Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) 1,1
FINCHES, FRINGILLIDAE
House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) 2
OLD WORLD SPARROWS, PASSERIDAE
House sparrow (Passer domesticus) 42

Notes:

Bald eagles: This year's nesting attempt at the same location as last year
(across the street from the lake at the SW corner) has failed. Everything
appeared to be right on track. Nest construction, pair bonding behavior
(including copulation). Then, for a while, I saw only one adult at a time,
so I figured incubation had started. But however hard and long I watched I
never saw anything in the nest. I am postive it's empty. No idea what
happend. But it's not unusual for a fair number of nests to fail, so I'm not
worried. We have plenty of eagles around....

Caspian tern: Just like last spring, for the past week I've seen one or two
birds foraging over/in the lake. It used to be the species only spent time
on the lake in late summer: adults with offspring. What next? Nesting
attempt on one of the diving platforms? (no, no, just kidding, the substrate
isn't right....).

Yellow-rumped warbler: Highest count thus far. In trees all around the park.
Didn't look at every single individual but saw at least 11 Myrtle and 38
Audubon's race.

Cheers,
Martin Muller, Seattle
MartinMuller at email.msn.com