Subject: [Tweeters] Magnuson Park, 22 April 2012
Date: Apr 22 17:21:05 2012
From: Scott Ramos - lsr at ramoslink.info


A glorious Spring day, with a bounty of birds. Evan Houston and I spent
part of the morning enjoying one FOY after another, plus Evan got two
FOP (first of park) birds as well.

The Soras were still calling, at least 2, from the Marsh Ponds. They
were calling before dawn when I arrived and as late as 8:00. A Virginia
Rail added in its call not far away. Also, in one of the ponds now
reduced to mud was a single Least Sandpiper. Not far away in the
meadows, 3 Wilson's Snipe and 2 Killdeer were seen flying circles.

Out on the lake, a few Greater Scaup were hanging around as was a
solitary Lesser Scaup male. A couple of Horned and Red-necked Grebes
were not far from shore, and a flock of over 120 Western Grebes were out
in the middle of the lake. Three Red-breasted Mergansers came all the
way up to the park shoreline, and a single Common Merganser was a
fly-over. At least 3 or 4 Common Loon were seen in the lake, at least
one of them was calling.

On the swim platform, early, was a single Dunlin. Later, the large flock
of Mew Gull was joined by two Bonaparte's Gulls, in breeding plumage.

The park was overrun by Yellow-rumped Warblers, a fairly even
distribution of Myrtle and Audubon's. Common Yellowthroat and
Orange-crowned Warblers were heard only. Tree, Barn and Cliff Swallows
were around in small numbers. A Hammond's Flycatcher was seen on
Promontory Point, a few Evening Grosbeak flew over the point, and a
Hermit's Thrush was giving its 'way' call there as well.

On Kite Hill, we unexpectedly flushed a Barn Owl from one of the
conifers, Evan's first at the park. After I left, Evan added a small
flock of American Pipit.

For the day 66 species. For the year, 8 new species, for a total of 103.
Scott Ramos
Seattle