Subject: Marymoor Park Report (Redmond, King Co, WA) 10/18/2000
Date: Oct 18 14:28:52 2000
From: Michael Hobbs - Hummer at isomedia.com


This morning was clear overhead and warm, with the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn
shining down. By about 7:10 it was almost bright enough to bird. By 8:30, a
gusty wind out of the south picked up, the clouds (which had been all around
but not overhead) moved in. A few drops of rain fell about 11:00 as we were
leaving. The birds seemed to have sensed the unsettled weather this morning.
They were unusually quiet and scarce. Our species count, at 42, was still
pretty good, but few individuals were noted (except for robins). There were
few highlights before we got over to Marymoor West (aka the Rowing Club or RC),
which was where the action was. The Pea Patch was being tilled, ending one of
our fall finch/sparrow hotspots.

Wood Duck 4 flying overhead (1)
Mallard A few, including a pair at RC
Northern Shoveler A few in slough N. of entrance
Gadwall Pair at RC, more with Shoveler
American Wigeon Pair at RC pond
Ring-necked Duck 3 at RC
Bufflehead 3 females at RC
Hooded Merganser 5 at RC
Common Merganser 1 female fishing at weir
Cooper's Hawk 1 early over dog meadow (2)
Common Snipe 3 at weir
Red-breasted Sapsucker Nice look at RC
American Robin 500? 1000? more? (3)

Notes:

(1) A flock of four Wood Duck, including at least 1 drake, flew right in front
of the moon at about 7:45 as we watched through our binoculars. Wow.

(2) There were two (other?) accipiters over the meadow at around 10:30. Not
sure of species.

(3) At dawn, the Robins started flying. For perhaps 15 minutes, there was a
steady stream of robins flying overhead, all headed downslough (north). At any
given time you could see perhaps 30 robins overhead, all flying in the same
direction, and they just never seemed to stop. Do wintering robins roost
communally? This looked like the morning dispersal of a HUGE roost. This is
the third week we have noticed this.

I was also at Marymoor on Sunday, October 15. Notable then were two
Double-cresed Cormorant, a Northern Harrier, 2 BARN SWALLOW, and 3 Western
Meadowlark.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland WA
== Hummer at isomedia.com
== http://www.scn.org/fomp/birding.htm