Lake Sammamish State Park, King, Washington, US
Jul 20, 2016 6:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.5 mile(s)
Comments: Sharon and Stan were joined by 8 others at Eastside Audubon's monthly bird walk at Lake Sammamish State Park. Cloudy to partly sunny, 58-72F, 0-2 mph, a perfect weather day to be out birding. 54 species for the day, 127 for the year. I announced at the start of our bird walk that since it was late July, and typically a quiet month for birds, not to expect much activity. Whoa, was that not the case! In the first two hours, from 6:30 to 8:30 am, we had an abundance of singing, flying, chasing, perching, feeding, birds, at least a dozen species in just a few trees close in front of us! And, the morning continued to be birdy.

HIGHLIGHTS:
SPOTTED SANDPIPER--2 adults and 1 juvenile at the mouth of Issaquah Creek
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER--1 in the newly created wetland area
BAND-TAILED PIGEON--5 fly overs
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD--2 female types
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER--2 on the boardwalk
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE--2 adults feeding babies in a nest; another feeding a Cowbird
RED-EYED VIREO--2 males singing simultaneously in the old orchard
4 Warbler species--COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, YELLOW, BLACK-THROATED GRAY, WILSON'S
WESTERN TANAGER--2 males and a female
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK--a few
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE--a male preening in the sun, and a female type

Critters: 1 deer, a few bunnies, 1 Garter Snake. The next bird walk is AUGUST 12, 6:30 am to 11:30 am (note the NEW START TIME, APRIL THROUGH AUGUST). No pre-registration, just show up rain or shine. Since this is a state park, a Discover Pass is necessary to park ($10 daily, $30 annual). We meet just inside the main park entrance (NOT the boat launch entrance off of Eastlake Sammamish Parkway), in the large parking lot on the left, and park in the middle of the first and second rows.
Submitted from eBird Android 1.2.3
54 species (+2 other taxa)