Subject: Marymoor Park Report (Redmond, King Co., WA) 10/17/03
Date: Oct 18 22:16:22 2003
From: Michael Hobbs - hummer at isomedia.com


Tweets - this is sort of a "this week at Marymoor" report. Wednesday I
could not go, and Joyce Meyer filled in on the record-keeping for me,
leading 7 others. I did get out yesterday, birding the whole route solo
for the first time in a long time. The weather on Wednesday was fairy
crappy, apparently, especially later in the morning. For me, yesterday,
the weather was quite good actually. The rain stopped right after 7:30,
and the wind didn't start until about 10:00.

Combined highlights: (W-Wednesday, F-Friday)

Wood Duck W,F - still a few around
Bufflehead W - first of fall
Bald Eagle W - first since August
N. Harrier W - 1 male, 1 female, not together
Cooper's Hawk W,F - 2 on Wednesday
Merlin W
Western Gull F - 2 adults
N. SHRIKE F - juvenile in E. Meadow
Varied Thrush W - 2 near mansion

Joyce's BUFFLEHEAD on Wednesday 10/15 were the earliest fall sightings
we've had (previous: 10/17/02)

My COOPER'S HAWK on Friday was a juvenile in the Pea Patch. It was
totally fearless of me, allowing me great looks from as close as 15 feet.
It actually seemed to be hoping I'd flush a Song Sparrow or something, as
it seemed to be following me as I went through the gardens.

This was my first fall record for WESTERN GULL. These birds were not
ultra-dark on the mantles, but were distinctly different than even the
obvious hybrids. These birds had clean white heads, orangey-yellow bills
with a red spot, jet-black wingtips, and dusky primary and secondary bases
on the underwing.

The NORTHERN SHRIKE made a pass at the birds in the compost piles before
landing in the tree at the north end of the East Meadow for a few seconds.
I was able to get pretty good looks at it before it flew off purposefully
to the east.

I had tantalizing glimpses of what I believe was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW,
but it disappeared into the bushes and could not be located for a positive
ID.

The Barn Owl was not at its roost either day.

Neither Joyce's group nor I broke 45 species, but the combined total was
54 species. The shrike brings the year total to 127.

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