Friday morning started out just about perfectly: no wind, clear skies, mild temps .. and the birds were very active. By 7:00 I had seen or heard more than 40 species. Although it did slow down a bit after that, and eventually clouded up and started a light rain, it was a good day overall. Nothing too out of the ordinary but a great day to be out. Some notables follow.

Eurasian Wigeon - this male was keeping apart from the flock of American Wigeons
California Quail - they have been elusive recently, but a flock of maybe half a dozen birds were in shrubs by the lake shore
Grebes - all 5 species today; small number of Pied-billed and Horned, one Red-necked, and over 100 Western - most were in the normal large flock in the middle of the lake; and, finally, an Eared Grebe, very rare at Magnuson, appeared south of the park, at scope distance; my last sightings were in 2010 and 2011
Cooper's Hawk - a juvenile near the Frog Pond, another bird kekking near the site of last year's nest; a third sighting (probably the same bird) was of a bird on the ground along the south fence trail; it let me approach, unawares, because it had attracted a couple of Crows that eventually harassed it into leaving
Bald Eagle - at least 4; a passerby mentioned having seen 6 earlier; 2 adults, 2 immature
Virginia Rail - one calling from the Grove Marsh, another from near Marsh Pond
Killdeer - several, different locations; a pair were on the bark mound where a pair nested last year
Wilson's Snipe - calling from the West Meadow
Herring Gull - one on the platform with the usual assortment
Barn Owl - east meadow
Anna's Hummingbird - at least 15 birds, 4 of which were female, 3 on nests
Yellow-rumped Warbler - several of both Myrtle and Audubon's races
Lincoln's Sparrow - just a couple; have been hard to find recently
Pine Siskin - a pair, near the south parking; several months since they have appeared

For the day, 61 species.
Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S27965611
Scott Ramos
Seattle




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