Tweets - Ten of us birding on an overcast and windless morning that slowly
degenerated to drizzle and a light breeze. It was pretty quiet, but we
managed to find a fair number of species, and get great looks at some.

Highlights:

Western Grebe 2 at lake
Cooper's Hawk Imm. chasing squirrels, adult in Pea Patch
American Kestrel Adult male in snag row again
Anna's Hummingbird 1 at compost piles, 1 at Pea Patch
Vaux's Swift At least 1 - latest fall sighting ever
Brown Creeper Matt had one near the stage, early
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 seen
Swainson's Thrush 1 at south end of Dog Area
Or.-crowned Warbler 1-2
Yellow Warbler 4-6 seen in a group
Yellow-rumped Warbler Large numbers, widespread
Fox Sparrow Quite a few, but few good looks
Golden-crowned Sparrow Good size flocks once more
Purple Finch 1 male in ash tree
Red-winged Blackbird Fifty plus, after months of few
Western Meadowlark 1 flew east from near Compost Piles

The immature COOPER'S HAWK was chasing squirrels in Snag Row. It was
definitely trying to grab one in a maple tree. Much later on, we found a
gorgeous adult Coop in the Pea Patch who seemed totally unconcerned at our
presence and gave absolutely fantastic eye-level (and lower) views from
about 30 feet away as it searched for prey.

After we were all done, I went to the boathouse just southwest of the park
(where I have permission for occasional visits). The one WESTERN GREBE we'd
seen from the lake platform had been so distant that I wasn't 100%
comfortable with the ID. From the boathouse, I was able to seen 2 grebes
well. While there, I also saw an OSPREY eating a fish in the cottonwood
next to the boathouse, about 30 AMERICAN COOT just south of the boathouse,
and three RED-NECKED GREBE just off from the dock. All would have been
visible from the lake platform.

At the Rowing Club we had a juvenile Aythya duck with an all-dark bill.
Most features suggested RING-NECKED DUCK, but the bill was better for
GREATER SCAUP. I'm still unsure on this one, though I lean towards RNDU.

After last week's excitement many birders visited Marymoor, leading to a
great week list.

Highlights from Thursday-Tuesday, based on reports from Michael Hobbs, Ollie
Oliver, Bruce Jones, MaryFrances Mathis, Houston Flores, Jim McCoy, and
Stefan Schlick:

Mourning Dove 9/20 One in snag row
Common Nighthawk 9/17 Marymoor First
Black Swift 9/18, ~35
Red-breasted Sapsucker 9/20
Willow Flycatcher 9/18
Say'sPhoebe 9/16-9/17
Horned Lark 9/17
American Pipit 9/20 Three on grass soccer fields
Townsend's Warbler 9/18
MacGillivray's Warbler 9/17
Lapland Longspur 9/16-9/17 At least 3 birds
Western Meadowlark 9/17

For the day, 59 species today. For the week, 73 species! For the year,
adding Common Nighthawk, 137. The overall park bird list is now at 176
species.

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