Subject: Marymoor Park Report (Redmond, King Co., WA) 5/21/2003
Date: May 21 16:03:39 2003
From: Michael Hobbs - hummer at isomedia.com


Tweets - it was overcast and misting gently for much of the morning, but
it was warm and windless, and it was clearing slowly. There were but 5 of
us, and there was quite a bit to see, though often it took time to track
things down.

Highlights:

Green Heron Still around - maybe nesting again nearby
BLUE-WINGED TEAL 2-3, M & F, near weir
R-breasted Sapsucker 3 sightings, best at Rowing Club
Western Wood-Pewee 3 sightings, incl. 1 singing W of windmill
Warbling Vireo Several, singing
N. R-winged Swallow A couple near the weir
R-breasted Nuthatch Heard one near mansion
Swainson's Thrush At least 3, "whit" calls, not singing
Cedar Waxwing Quite a few sightings
O-crowned Warbler 2+
Yellow Warbler Many, singing all over
Y-rumped Warbler 1 female Aud. at Rowing Club
Common Yellowthroat Several, including pair copulating
Wilson's Warbler Abundant, singing, incl. 1 female
Western Tanager Silent, but a half dozen seen, incl. females
B-headed Grosbeak Abundant, singing, incl. 2+ females
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE Perhaps 6, singing. 1 female. Great looks.

We saw lots of young birds today, including:

WOOD DUCK F with 7 'lings near windmill, 2 'lings alone at RC
Mallard Female with about 6 'lings
Killdeer Adult and 1 young on grass soccer fields
Marsh Wren Adults feeding 2 young in East Meadow
G-crowned Kinglet Adults feeding young, south of Mansion
Bushtit Adult feeding young at Rowing Club,
adult with nest materials
European Starling Adult feeding young
American Robin Also saw several adults w/nest material,
1 robin on nest

RED-TAILS were active by both nests.
OSPREYS were active at cell phone tower nest.

A male HOUSE FINCH serenaded a female from a distance of 6" to 2 feet, as
he moved around posturing. Sometimes he appeared to be showing his rear
end to her. He kept this up for several minutes, usually posing sideways
to her, with his head tilted, looking like an over-emoting crooner.

A male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD got right in the face of a bushtit southwest of
the mansion. He buzzed right up to (and maybe touching) the poor Bushtit
repeatedly for about 10 seconds until the Bushtit fled the Scot's Broom.

Yellow Flag iris, Thimbleberry, and Stinging Nettle were all in bloom.
There were tons of MOSQUITOS. We also saw E.G. Squirrel, Muskrat, Painted
Turtle, Red-eared Slider, and a Garter Snake.

For the day, 69 species.

For the year, Blue-winged Teal, MOURNING DOVE
(seen by Matt Bartels on Monday), Western Wood-Pewee, Northern
Rough-winged Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, LAZULI BUNTING
(seen by Andy from Ketchikan on Tuesday), and Bullock's Oriole bring the
year total to 113 species.

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