Managed to get an earlier start today as my companion Jen McKeirnan was interested in recent reports of Barn Owls. And, they did not disappoint. In the Central Meadow, we had two separate fly-overs?a very white adult and a still-brown immature?and great, long views of their hunting flights. Although a little chilly to start, the temps only got into the low 70s, with partial overcast, making for a very pleasant outing. Not a great diversity of birds?this is mid-July after all?but there were enough nice birds to make for a successful outing. Shorebird habitat at Magnuson is almost nil but we are also evidencing their move south: a pair of Long-billed Dowitchers last weekend and now a small group of Least Sandpipers.

California Quail - a couple were calling and chucking from the park?s equipment yard at the south end, a new location
Pied-billed Grebe - 3 family groups, the one in Promontory Pond had 5 grebe-lets, down from 7 last weekend
Osprey - a pair, near the NOAA nest platform; one caught a fish not 3 m from where I was standing on the shore, spooking a flock of Mallards in the process
Cooper?s Hawk - 2 or 3; an adult female flew between the wetlands and Promontory Point; an imm male went tearing after a House Finch (?), rousing a whole host of other passerines in the process; an adult female flew into perch on the NOAA fence line in the north parking lot
Red-tailed Hawk - an very strikingly plumage immature was perched on a utility truck at NOAA
Least Sandpiper - 4 were on the north shore between NOAA and the Sail Pavilion
https://goo.gl/photos/QAxwxdjzBUsnahK1A
Barn Owl - 1 adult, 1 juvenile
Rufous Hummingbird - a lingering female
Willow Flycatcher - 1; the only flycatcher for the day
Swanson?s Thrush - a couple, heard-only whits; uncommon in the park
American Robin - lots of young birds, including a large flock of still-spotted birds along the south fence, devouring Hawthorn berries
https://goo.gl/photos/5bHsrMRV1wpV1YaNA
Orange-crowned Warbler - one singing, north end
Black-headed Grosbeak - one apparent juvenile (or just a very pale female) by the now-dry North Lagoon; I had seen Grosbeak?s carrying nesting material several weeks ago in that area, so we wonder if they nested?there have not been reports that they had nested in the park before

Also, Muskrat in two different ponds, a pair of Common Garter Snakes entwined:
https://goo.gl/photos/Qq1a9SrGwMT5EygB9, and lots of Cottontails.

For the day, 50 species; with LESA new, 123 species for the year.
Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30696204 <http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30696204>
Scott Ramos
Seattle
Magnuson Park Geography <https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zXRxfq3LHS_o.kvemGrlPu-NM&usp=sharing>