Subject: [Tweeters] Magnuson Park, 16 October 2014
Date: Oct 16 22:52:48 2014
From: Scott Ramos - lsr at ramoslink.info


Although the day started with a heavy overcast, it was quite mild and with very little breeze the lake was mostly smooth. Lots of passerine activity, still a lot of singing.

Cackling Goose - small flock flying down lake
California Quail - 8, right on the main N-S road near the swim beach parking area
Horned Grebe - 3, in different locations
Red-necked Grebe - 1 off boat launch
Western Grebe - 98 !! Most were in a long flock way out in the lake, though some were also close to shore
Raptors - Cooper?s Hawk, Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk; a long time since a 3-raptor day
Wilson?s Snipe - 2, calling from NOAA meadow
Bonaparte?s Gull - on swim platform with dozens of Mew, many California, a few Ring-billed and Glaucous-winged, and an adult Herring Gull
Photo: https://picasaweb.google.com/104613265151815506340/MagnusonParkRecentPhotos?noredirect=1#6071043273508568850
Mourning Dove - chased by an Anna?s Hummingbird (who else?)
Barn Owl - one was calling a lot from near the community center and then flew to the trees on Sportsfield Dr. Another bird was cruising the Central Meadow and dropped down not 5 m away from me; after a couple of minutes it left with vole in claw
Red-naped Sapsucker - still present in tall cottonwood in Kingfisher Basin
Varied Thrush - a pair on Promontory Point
Cedar Waxwing - 300 is a conservative estimate; many large flocks and many smaller flocks; looks like a bumper crop of Hawthorn berries
Savannah Sparrow - 4 birds in one bush in the Central Meadow; getting late
Fox Sparrow - probably 3 dozen or more, many were singing, loudly
Fox Sparrow video: http://youtu.be/jd-MZIB2W3U
Pine Siskin - 2 flocks, maybe 3 dozen total; maybe we?re back to a normal winter for finches
Evening Grosbeak - a couple flew over, calling

For the day, 61 species
Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20249883
Scott Ramos
Seattle