Tweets - there were 17 of us today on a rather chilly day for July. It did
eventually warm up, but people were digging gloves out of pockets, wishing
for vests, and generally feeling a bit out of season. The birds more than
made up for it though.

The big highlight was a new park bird - LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - at the
retaining pond near the "event pad" (the paved 5-acres that Cirque du Soleil
uses). We had about 5 Master Birders and a couple of other people over
there early. It was still a struggle to identify.

The other big highlight was from last Saturday, when Megan Lyden found a
pair of BARRED OWLS at the Rowing Club. Matt had them (or at least one of
them) there again early this morning (before 5).

Both of those are new for the Marymoor list, which now stands at 205.

We also had our first SPOTTED SANDPIPER of 2008, which flew down to the
weir. In the cattails just upstream of the weir, Mark spotted a VIRGINIA
RAIL. We seldom get to *see* them.

Juvenile GREEN HERONS - probably 4 or more - were all along the slough and
out at the lake.

We had a four warbler day, with a couple of YELLOW WARBLER, a male WILSON'S
WARBLER, a juvenile YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and many (mostly juvenile) COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT.

We had a COOPER'S HAWK, probably the female from the nest, in the Doug Firs
northeast of the mansion. It was about 10 feet down a dying tree, and was
being mobbed by CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and
GOLDEN-CROWENED KINGLETS. Between the mansion and the park office we had
the three juvenile Coops hanging out together. Great looks.

LOTS of baby birds all around, and such "heartwarming" sights as a WARBLING
VIREO feeding a baby BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD. Great looks, but...

Various of the 17 of us reported great mammal sightings too. Matt and Scott
had a howling COYOTE in the East Meadow early. Later we found the entrails
of a rabbit there; probably left by the coyote. Brian had RIVER OTTER at
the entrance bridge. Several people spotted LONG-TAILED WEASEL and EASTERN
COTTONTAIL. The only live mammal I managed to see was EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL
:(

For the day, 61 species of bird.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== http://www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
== http://www.marymoor.org/BirdBlog.htm
== birdmarymoor at verizon.net