Tweets - we had a FABULOUS Earth Day at Marymoor today. The weather was
cloudy and chilly, though there was a bit of clearing and warmth very late
in the morning. But it was phenominally birdy, with little wind and no
rain. The best birds were two NASHVILLE WARBLERS; and a WESTERN KINGBIRD at
the Compost Piles.

Highlights:

Common Goldeneye 2 females - probably last 'til fall
Bald Eagle Large numbers - at least 13
Vaux's Swift 2 or 3, maybe. First of Year (FOY)
Five woodpecker species (Pileated was heard-only though)
WESTERN KINGBIRD At Compost Piles
Cliff Swallow FOY (though actually, I had one 4/20)
SWAINSON'S THRUSH Great looks, and came in to SWTH on iPod
Hermit Thrush 3-4 - FOY
NASHVILLE WARBLER 2, both with flocks of Yellow-rumps in willows
Yellow-rumped Warbler Tons, both races. Some females
Fox Sparrow Only 1 - maybe last 'til fall
Lincoln's Sparrow One at Pea Patch
White-crowned Sparrow Large movement of gambelii
Western Meadowlark Three in East Meadow

Afterwards, I went to the 187th Ave. viewpoint off East Lake Samm Parkway,
and walked north a bit up the East Lake Sammamish Trail along the east edge
of the park. I added FIVE species:

Common Loon 2 on lake, also seen Tuesday
California Gull
PURPLE MARTIN At least 1
Brown Creeper
House Sparrow

VAUX'S SWIFT was also seen Tuesday, 4/20, by Sharon Aagaard. The only
earlier sighting was 4/17/2008

WESTERN KINGBIRD - this is our earliest sighting ever, beating last year's
by a day.

PURPLE MARTIN - this is our earliest sighting ever. Previous first
sightings 4/29/08, and 4/30/09

NASHVILLE WARBLER - this is our second earliest sighting, a day later than
last year's record

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - large numbers (well over 50). Males outnumbered
females about 10-1, though this represents an increase in the numbers of
females from previous weeks. Audubon's outnumbered Myrtle's by about 3-1.

Our big miss today was RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, though both Sharon and I had
them on 4/20. Ruby-crowns often stick around for *at least* one more week,
though in 2004 our last one was on 4/21. We'll have to see if we get any
more this year.

For the day, 70 species, plus the 5 extras after the walk! Also, from
Tuesday, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Cooper's Hawk to make 77 for the week (or
about 1/2 the species we'll get for the whole year).

For 2010 so far: 105 species (adding Common Loon, California Gull, Vaux's
Swift, Western Kingbird, Purple Martin, Cliff Swallow, Swainson's Thrush,
Hermit Thrush, and Nashville Warbler this week).

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