Hi Tweets, GREAT observation Lonnie and Scot. Saw it on ebird too. Great photos. This is a totally cool and very noteworthy sighting for Purple Martins in King County. If these birds do in fact nest here, which will need to be confirmed in the coming weeks, months, by observing food carrying, or fecal sac removal, or the presence of nestlings in that cavity , it will be, to the best of my knowledge, the FIRST and ONLY record of martins nesting in a snag in King. (Someone please correct me if I am wrong here). Also, it pushes their known range further east into the foothills, a bit away from Lake Sammamish. . The fact that the male is in full adult After Second Year plumage ups their chances of successfully breeding here. Really look forward to follow up observations.

Stan Kostka
Arlington
lynnandstan at earthlink.net


Subject: birding at Three Forks Park and Stillwater yesterday afternoon
Date: Fri May 25 2018 10:37 am
From: mombiwheeler AT gmail.com

Hi Tweeters,

I went birding with Scot Duncan yesterday at Three Forks Park (starting in
the dog off leash area) and the Stillwater Unit of the Snoqualmie Wildlife
Area, both located in the foothills of King County.

Stillwater; a fairly brief stop:
……. (2) PURPLE MARTIN (a pair that were nesting in a tall
snag despite the presence of several nesting Starlings. This was the first
time that I have seen them not nesting in a gourd),…….

Good birding,
Lonnie Somer
Seattle