Tweets ? A rather cold, cloudy, breezy, and quiet morning. I think the birds were anticipating the incoming bad weather and were heavily in feeding mode, not sitting-on-exposed-perch-singing mode. Winter birds are definitely on the decline or have moved on altogether, but migrants and new summer arrivals are taking their places.

Highlights:

Double-crested Cormorant Down to just 1
Bald Eagle Rather over-common. 7 or more, I believe
GREATER YELLOWLEGS Slough to Pet Memorial Gardens and back
Barn Owl Flew past Viewing Mound around 5:20 a.m.
Vaux?s Swift 2 at Lake Platform ? First Of Year
HAMMOND?S FLYCATCHER SW part of Dog Area; gave us elusive views
WARBLING VIREO 1-2 at Rowing Club, singing
Hermit Thrush One along southeast edge of Dog Meadow
Orange-crowned Warbler Many - 15+
NASHVILLE WARBLER At least 1; more elusive views
Black-throated Gray Warbler Rowing Club ? very elusive views
Lincoln?s Sparrow One SANG at Compost Piles early, 2 there later
Dark-eyed Junco Nest with babies in hanging flowers at Park Office

Brian also reported a possible COMMON POORWILL before 5:00 a.m., flushed from the trail leading towards the east end of the boardwalk. He saw eyeshine before the bird popped into the air in a very goatsucker manner. By dates, Common Nighthawk is impossible. We have one fall record of poorwill from Marymoor; a freshly deceased bird from 2010-09-23.

This is by far the earliest WARBLING VIREO we?ve ever had at Marymoor; the earliest date before today was April 26 (three years).

Only the 3rd time we?ve had LINCOLN?S SPARROW actually singing at Marymoor. I expect this means the birds will be heading to breeding grounds especially soon.

Last night, I had a little time to bird starting at about 6:15 p.m. In the willows just east of the EAS shed (southwest edge of the East Meadow), I came across a warbler fall-out that featured at least 20 Orange-crowned Warblers, 2-3 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 Black-throated Gray Warblers, and at least one Nashville Warbler, all in three adjacent trees. They slowly moved to the southwest. With them were 3-4 Black-capped Chickadees and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Last night?s BLACK-THROATED GRAY was First Of Year, and the 3rd earliest ever at Marymoor.

Brian and I each saw a COYOTE in the pre-dawn hours ? far enough apart that they were probably different dogs.

Misses today were numerous: Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Northern Flicker ! , Violet-green Swallow ! , Cliff Swallow, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet (all seen at least 15 previous years during Week 17). Also, our first week without Red Crossbill since February.

For the day, 59 species. For the year, adding Vaux?s Swift, Hammond?s Flycatcher, and Black-throated Gray Warbler, and including EVENING GROSBEAK that Grace&Ollie found a few days ago, I believe we?re at 110 species.