Hello all,
It's been quite a while since I've sent out any reports for North
Creek Park, mostly because there hasn't been much to report since
migration died down. Last night I spent about an hour there and only
managed to come up with 22 species. Either way, I thought an update
was due.

The grass in the marsh has grown incredibly quickly and is now well
over 6' in places and coming up into the boardwalk. The parks
department apparently took notice and cleared the walkway of grass in
the last week. Most interestingly, they also appear to have mowed the
that surrounds the wet field at the north end of the park. This was
the area that held Solitary Sandpipers, a Western Kingbird, and
Western Meadowlark earlier in the spring and ownership of the dike was
a bit of a gray area. The mowing of a walkway on it by the parks
department would seem to imply ownership and give implicit permission
to the general public, which is good news as it also provides access
to a large pond that is good habitat for lots of birds. I will feel a
little more comfortable directing people out there if another rarity
shows up. Spotted Sandpipers seem to have taken up residence and have
been present since at least memorial day. Northern Rough-Winged
Swallows have also been common here for multiple weeks, although they
were absent yesterday.

There is a Bald Eagle nest here that was occupied most of March and
April, but it appears that the nest failed at some point while I was
out of town in May. I had some folks mention that they felt they'd
seen a baby's head popping up at one point. One Eagle is still common
in the park and I've had as many as three visible soaring well north
of the park.

I have a strong hunch that a pair of Belted Kingfishers is nesting in
the area. The last few weeks one has been flying "with purpose" back
and forth from the same spot never making so much as a peep.

At least one American Bittern has taken up residence and has given me
a couple long looks in flight. Yesterday I could hear one near the
north end of the boardwalk, but could not find him visibly.

The area is seemingly home to the worlds quietest population of
Virginia Rail. I have almost never gotten any response to clapping or
playback, but have had several visible from the boardwalk.

Cedar Waxwing, Marsh Wren, American Goldfinch, House Finch,
Brown-Headed Cowbird, Redwing Blackbirds, Song Sparrow, Common
Yellowthroat, Anna's Hummingbird, Barn Swallow and Violet Green
Swallow's have all been present in good numbers as well every week.

Conspicuously absent have been any flycatchers. I am far from an
expert on flycatcher habitat's, but there are certainly plenty of
suitable prey this time of year. Are there any expected flycatcher
species in marshes or riparian areas?

So now you know what's going (or isn't going) on in this little corner
of Snohomish County.

Josh Adams
Lynnwood, WA
xjoshx at gmail.com