Yesterday, December 22nd, Sal Salerno a visiting birder from Modesto, CA.
and I birded Magnuson Park, in the vain hope that we may locate some
lingering Bohemian Waxwings seen there about three weeks ago. Unfortunately
we dipped, even though we made a valiant attempt to turn the two CEDAR
WAXWINGS we saw into Bohemians.
We parked at the Kite Hill Parking Lot and immediately had a brightly
colored adult COOPER'S HAWK in the trees behind the lot. Of course that kept
most bird activity to a minimum. As we started walking on the Cross Park
Trail, the Cooper's Hawk came shooting across the trail giving us a great
view. We turned right at the ball field and took the trail up over Kite
Hill. Stopping in the wooded area, pishing brought out a RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLET and a couple of SONG SPARROWS. Several AMERICAN ROBINS flew over
and one landed in the top of one of the trees. A closer look through the
binoculars showed a much grayer bird - a NORTHERN SHRIKE! The black eye
stripe was quite evident and it was a likely adult bird.
Now who said pishing does not work? Having a shrike respond to pishing was a
definite first for me!
On the opposite side of the trail we had several GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, a
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, two NORTHERN FLICKERS, a pair of DOWNY WOODPECKERS, a
single BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and a calling SPOTTED TOWHEE. There also were
more Ruby-crowned Kinglets flitting about. Reaching the top of Kite Hill, we
found a small flock of HOUSE FINCHES feeding on dried blackberries. Pishing
brought out more Song Sparrows, a couple of not so shy Spotted Towhees and
several FOX SPARROWS, most of the darker race but also a couple of lighter
birds. A juvenile (brown phased :) -smile ) Coopers Hawk sat in the tree at
the bottom of the hill. It let us have a good look at it and walk by without
taking flight. A little further towards the Dog Off Leash Area, we had close
looks at a nice PACIFIC WREN. There also were more Song - and Fox Sparrows,
a Spotted Towhee and a couple of Ruby-crowned Kinglets in that area. Across
the fence, on top of a light pole in the NOAA area, Sal spotted a RED-TAILED
HAWK having an early lunch of an unknown prey. A loudly complaining GREAT
BLUE HERON flew along the lake shore and landed in a tree. We turned back
towards the Kite Hill Parking Lot, birding along the Lake Shore Trail. A
narrow dirt trail through the brush, gave us a chance to scan Lake
Washington. A lone gull far out was the only bird found.
Tuning back to the paved trail, we saw an American Robin sitting in a small
tree above the brush. The juvenile Cooper's Hawk could also be seen at a
distance, still perched in the same tree. I heard a familiar bird call, but
it did not register until Sal asked if we had California Quails in the area.
It called about three times, prompting us to search for it. We were
unsuccessful to locate the now quiet quail. Next thing we knew, the juvie
Cooper's Hawk zoomed across the trail and down towards the shore ,were we
had just come through the brush. I thought for sure the robin seen there was
lunch meat! To our big surprise, a CALIFORNIA QUAIL burst out of the brush
and beat a hasty retreat back into the brambles on the other side of Lake
Shore Trail! It takes a Californian birder to find a California quail - with
the help of a Cooper's Hawk! We did check, but did not find a kill. We just
put the hawk up. It is truly amazing that the hawk spotted its prey from
such a distance, however the juvenile's hunting skills were not the best
yet.
Continuing down the trail, we found some GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS in brush
along the shoreline. Reaching the area with the with the submarine diving
planes buried in the ground, we had 15 - 20 American Robins feeding on
berries. Mixed in with them were two CEDAR WAXWINGS. We did go back twice,
but could not come up with any Bohemian Waxwings.
In this area, by the restrooms and the concrete platform in the water, we
saw COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON and
a single female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER on the water. On the platform were
resting MEW GULLS, RING-NECKED GULLS, a single CALIFORNIA GULL and one
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT.
We also stopped at the ponds in the wetlands area. Here we added MALLARD,
RING-NECKED DUCK, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and AMERICAN COOT. In
addition, there were more Gadwalls, Bufflehead and Lesser Scaup at this
location. Also a possible Eurasian Wigeon, or at least a hybrid. It was
sleeping with its head tucked in and could not be positively identified.
Overall a great morning birding Magnuson Park, even though our target birds
seemed to have moved on.

Wishing all of Tweeters Happy Holidays, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year with lots of great birds!

Hans Feddern
Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA.
thefedderns at gmail.com
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