Subject: [Tweeters] Magnuson Park, 3 May 2012
Date: May 3 13:32:08 2012
From: lsr at ramoslink.info - lsr at ramoslink.info


Soggy skies and soggy meadows all morning, and the constant dripping kept
the leaves moving, making it difficult to find Waldo. The wetlands were
almost devoid of any water birds; many were out in the lake instead,
including flocks of Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers and,
surprisingly, Northern Pintail. A large flock of at least 150 ducks flew
too high overhead for an ID, heading south. A Caspian Tern also flew over.

Other notables included:
Barn Owl over 7 Meadow, early.
Two compact flocks of Horned Grebes were not far from shore, all but one in
breeding finery.
Several dozen Yellow-rumped Warblers, all were Audubon's that I could see.
Also, many Orange-crowned and Common Yellowthroats, plus a Wilson's,
Townsend's and Nashville, and a single Warbling Vireo.
Literally hundreds of Violet-green Swallows, joined by dozens of Barn and
Cliff and a few Tree Swallows as well as several dozen Vaux's Swifts.
Rufous Hummingbirds are not common in the park, but a pair were there and
interacting.

At the end of the walk, just after the Townsend's Warbler had made its
appearance, a commotion started up in the woods. The Robins were scolding
so loudly I thought there must have been several, but there were only two.
I could not find any raptors, but two Crows appeared to be the object of
the Robin's scorn, maybe they had been nest-raiding. A couple of Anna's
Hummingbirds took turns chasing and harassing the crows, and the
Yellow-rumps, who had previously been giving their typical warbler,
elevated the decibel level of their songs, and the Townsend's started doing
the same. I am not aware of a scolding vocalization of the warblers, so was
this 'shouting' of their normal warbling their version of scolding?

Scott Ramos
Seattle