Tweets ? with the change in the weather, the migratory floodgates opened. After weeks of doldrums, today was super birdy, with large flocks of warblers in many locations, plus a lot of other good birds. We had seven species of warbler, and six species of sparrow.

Highlights:
a.. Pied-billed Grebe ? at least 8 on the lake, up from 1?s and 2?s
b.. Vaux?s Swift ? at least 30 ? quite a large number for Marymoor
c.. Virginia Rail ? one called spontaneously across from Lake Platform
d.. Northern Harrier ? our first for 2017 ? cruising high heading west
e.. Pileated Woodpecker ? three seen together
f.. Falcon sp. ? ?not a Merlin? was about all we could agree on ? distant, in flight
g.. Willow Flycatcher ? one along edge of Dog Meadow
h.. Western Wood-Pewee ? two near east end of boardwalk ? first in 5 weeks
i.. Warbling Vireo ? two, one seen
j.. Violet-green Swallow ? at least 10 mixed in with Vaux?s Swifts. First in 5 weeks
k.. Barn Swallow ? only one
l.. Black-capped Chickadee ? large flocks, with warblers mixed in
m.. Chestnut-backed Chickadee ? widespread, and mixed in BCCH/warbler flocks
n.. Swainson?s Thrush ? a very few, heard-only, pre-dawn
o.. AMERICAN PIPIT ? at least 20 on grass soccer fields at 7:00 a.m. ? First of Fall
p.. Orange-crowned Warbler ? Maybe a dozen, mostly celata, with several lutescens, and one orestera
q.. Common Yellowthroat ? still the most common warbler
r.. Yellow Warbler ? maybe 4 ? first in 5 weeks
s.. Yellow-rumped Warbler ? about 5 drab birds
t.. Black-throated Gray Warbler ? Probably at least 8; many sightings
u.. Townsend?s Warbler ? First of Fall ? at least 2
v.. Wilson?s Warbler ? one
w.. Lincoln?s Sparrow ? 2-4 ? First of Fall
x.. Golden-crowned Sparrow ? 3 ? First of Fall
y.. Western Meadowlark ? 2 in East Meadow ? First of Fall
Our only notable misses today were Hooded Merganser, Glaucous-winged Gull, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Marsh Wren, and Western Tanager.

For the day, 61 species ? a big increase over our recent counts.

== Michael Hobbs
== www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
== BirdMarymoor at frontier.com