Hi Tweets

Sorry for the delay in the report for Marymoor. Michael Hobbs is on
vacation and I have been filling in for him. On the 16th 8 of us enjoyed
a nice summer morning walk. Many of the birds were still singing, lots
of juvies were around but you could tell that summer is here.

Nothing spectacular to report but we had nice looks at adult and
immature VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW and BARN SWALLOWs. a moment of excitement
when a COCKATIEL came flying past, but it was followed by it's owner who
soon coaxed it out of the blackberries. A very nice light morph immature
RED-TAILED HAWK was calling for food frantically over by the rowing
club. A PEREGRINE FALCON made a rapid flyby along the river and
disappeared in the distance. The SWAINSON'S THRUSHes were singing up a
storm. The male YELLOW WARBLER was in his usual treetop position by the
rowing club, and the frustrating RED-EYED VIREO was still out-of-sight
in the cottonwood forest. A family of WOOD DUCKs swam in the water
lilies out a Lake Sammamish. The numbers of EUROPEAN STARLINGs (300) and
HOUSE FINCHes (120) were up greatly.

The highlight of the day was the family of RIVER OTTERs that we saw in
the river just west of the windmill. They were playing along the west
edge of the river, but when they became aware we were observing them
they pulled back into the bank, huddled together and stared at us. A
couple of them seemed to crawl into a tunnel on that side of the river.
As we left they were swimming down river. Really put the cap on the day.

A total of 52 species for the day

******

July 23rd dawned bright and clear. Four of us took the walk and it was
soon evident that summer is truly here - there was almost no bird song.
We had to work hard for those sightings we had. We had many of the same
birds we have come to expect during the last few weeks, but an
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and an immature YELLOW WARBLER were nice. Once
again the VIOLET-GREEN and BARN SWALLOWS gave us a chance to study adult
and immature plumages. Two GREEN HERONs put in an appearance. The
SWAINSON'S THRUSHes were singing up a storm, and the STELLER'S JAYs are
starting their annual feast of hazelnuts. The WILLOW FLYCATCHERs were
notable by their silence. The WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE is starting to feed
it's nestling along the path near the entrance to the cottonwood forest.
The RED-EYED VIREO that has been tantalizing us for several weeks by
singing from a totally obscured spot was singing where we thought we
might be able to see him, but when we walked back a short way to hunt it
became completely quiet. In a small flock of small birds we had
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLET including a juvenile bird looking much "streakier".

I had a quick look at the RIVER OTTERS early in the morning, but not
like the quality views last week.

A total of 50 species for the day.,

We will continue the weekly walks for the remaining time Michael is
away. Start time is at 6:30 AM from the west end of the dog area parking
lot at Marymoor.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
bellasoc at isomedia.com