Subject: Marymoor Park Report (Redmond, King Co. WA) 7/24/2001
Date: Jul 25 13:40:50 2001
From: Michael Hobbs - Hummer at isomedia.com


Tweets - a gorgeous morning, with Marymoor abuzz with preparations for the
WOMAD festival this weekend. As a result, few dogs were there early on. The
first 2 hours or so were fantastic. Things slowed down a bit after that, but
it was still a nice walk.

While we were at the weir we saw a couple of SPOTTED SANDPIPER. I began to
think of the shorebirds that we have seen there in years gone by, most notably
a Lesser Yellowlegs from September, 1996, and a Solitary Sandpiper from August,
1994. We've also had a couple of sightings each of Western and Least
Sandpiper, but none from the last three or four years.

I recounted to MaryFrances the amazing 1996 Lesser Yellowlegs sighting: Brian
Bell and I had been on the old weir (you were allowed to walk out on it), one
of us on each side of the gap. As we stood there, about 10 feet apart, the
yellowlegs landed *between* us. The three of us (Brian, myself, and the bird)
had stood frozen for several seconds all agape at our mutual presence.

After relating this tale and bemoaning the recent dearth of good shorebirds at
Marymoor, we continued 100 feet up the slough to where the small culvert
empties out forming a small beach. As we stood there, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS came
in and landed at our feet! There were three Mallards there which seemed to
make the yellowlegs nervous so it didn't stay long, but there it was, not 10
feet from us. It was uncanny and delightful. It left me wondering what bird I
should reminisce

Moments before, BTW, we had a good long look at a Long-tailed Weasel poking
around on the large rocks before hustling across the path.

Other highlights:

Western Grebe One well out on the lake
Green Heron Three together at the weir, maybe 1 more
Wood Duck Female with 3 'lings at the weir, F at lake
Bald Eagle Adult over lake
Belted Kingfisher Again, many sightings, at least 3 birds
Steller's Jay A couple working at the (green) hazelnuts
Purple Finch One female or immature

There continue to be amazing numbers of American Robin and House Finch, but we
had only one immature BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, only one distantly heard YELLOW
WARBLER, only a couple of distantly heard RED-EYED VIREO (no activity noted at
the nest near the Rowing Club dock), and no Band-tailed Pigeon at all.

All told, 48 species. Not bad for late July.

I will be out of town the next two weeks, but Brian Bell said he'd probably be
able to fill in for me on the 1st and 8th. I'll be back for the 15th (and that
will be the beginning of the shift to 7:00 a.m. starts).

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