It started out foggy, and it took a long time to clear, but it was a very interesting day birding at Marymoor today. A real change in the bird selection has occurred, though a few ?summer? birds are still hanging around, and we?re still waiting on many ?winter? species.

Highlights:

D.-crested Cormorant Brian & Ollie saw 1 flying ? First Of Fall
Green Heron Juvenile at Rowing Club pond
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 at sunrise at Compost Piles
Glaucous-winged Gull 1 adult ? FOF
Barn Owl 2 seen from new viewing mound
Pileated Woodpecker Heard several times
COMMON RAVEN One flew over the Dog Meadow
PURPLE MARTIN Still at least a couple ? very late
Barn Swallow 2 still about
Pacific Wren One at east end of boardwalk ? FOF
Ruby-crowned Kinglet At least 2 ? FOF
Swainson?s Thrush 1 thrush seen, 1 SWTH heard
AMERICAN PIPIT 5 on grass field #7 (near Lot G)
Or.-crowned Warbler At least 2
Y.-rumped Warbler 50+ All over, both Audubon?s & Myrtle?s
Bl.-thr. Gray Warbler At least 3 ? nice looks
WH.-THROATED SPARROW Tan-stripe bird near 3rd Dog Swim Beach
That makes 5 First Of Fall birds.

As we walked along the south edge of grass fields 7-8-9, the sound of PURPLE MARTINS caught my attention. Looking up, there was a FALCON which 2 Purple Martins were harassing. Ollie got some photos; we?re not certain of the identification. It may have been a pale MERLIN, or maybe a juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON??? I?ll figure it out when I see the photos.

For the day, 60 species. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was new for the year. Our big miss for the day ? Great Blue Heron!

== Michael Hobbs
== www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
== BirdMarymoor at frontier.com