After being out of town for a week, it was nice to see all the new arrivals at the park this weekend. In beautiful Spring weather, I was able to do a long walk on Friday, then added a few more birds during and around the Magnuson monthly neighborhood bird count on Saturday. The other big change is that water levels are way down in the wetland ponds, so much so that I worry that if we don?t get our typical Spring rains, that a dry summer could be problematic. Notable birds included:

Greater White-fronted Goose - 1 was with a handful of Canadas in the Sportsfield, early, than at the lake shore in late morning
Winter ducks have been leaving - only a pair of Common Goldeneye, 1 Common Merganser and half dozen Lesser Scaup (no Greaters)
Common Loon - one in full breeding plumage has been hanging out in Pontiac Bay
Cooper?s Hawk - an adult male was seen adding sticks to a new nest on Promontory Point; this nest, unlike last year?s which was at eye level, is high in a Madrona tree
Red-tailed Hawk - adult soaring high; juvenile being mobbed by a small flock of crows
Band-tailed Pigeon - 1 flew over Prom Pt.
Caspian Tern - 2 on swim platform, calling
Anna?s Hummingbird - all known nests have been abandoned or predated; on the other hand, at least 2 fledglings were seen about, indicating that some of the females are doing a good job of hiding their nests!
Hutton?s Vireo - singing, Prom Pt
Bushtit - 4 pairs, 2 nests in progress
Warblers - Orange-crowned, several, singing and visible; Common Yellowthroat, several, male and female; Yellow-rumped, both sub-species; Black-throated Gray, 2 quiet females on Prom Pt
Brown-headed Cowbird - they?re back
Purple Finch - singing from central meadows

For the 2 days, 65 species; with CATE, COLO, BTPI, OCWA, BTYW, BHCO and PUFI new, 93 species for the year.
Checklists: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28822426 <http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28822426>, http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28836284 <http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28836284>
Scott Ramos
Seattle