Subject: [Tweeters] Magnuson Park, 28 April 2020
Date: Wed Apr 29 10:12:23 PDT 2020
From: lsr at ramoslink.info - lsr at ramoslink.info

Taking a mental health break from working at home, I entered the park quite
early to avoid the crowds. Unlike the weekends where Magnuson becomes a zoo
(and I avoid), despite the mayor's requirement of park parking
restrictions, on a cloudy weekday, there were very few people around. A few
notables ...
Cinnamon Teal - uncommon in the park, a pair have been around for
several weeks now Virginia Rail - a couple, giving their kiddick call
Cooper's Hawk - there are two active nests this year; maybe. The pair that
nested on Promontory Point last year have moved their nest to a new
location and appear to already be sitting on eggs. Another pair (adult
male, immature female) have now made four nests, each quite extensive, but
have yet to settle down to business. Flycatchers - Hammond's, Dusky and
several Pacific Slope Vireo - Hutton's and at least a dozen Warbling (and
a Cassin's a few days ago) Hermit Thrush - at least 5!
But, here is the reason why I even made this report. There was a Warbler
extravaganza!
Orange-crowned - 31 Common Yellowthroat - 24 Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) -
13 Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) - 132 !! Black-throated Gray - 7 Townsend's
-4 Wilson's - 17
Weather the past couple of days has been interesting: first, a couple of
days of steady, sometimes heavy, rain, followed by a pretty breezy day.
Yesterday, wind was calm, weather was balmy, so maybe the birds were
stockpiling energy for their next push north. Granted, I did get there
early, spent more than 5 hours and covered more than 5 miles. But, I can
safely say there was no place in the park I could stand and not hear
Yellow-rumps singing. Literally. I was pretty diligent in counting every
bird I could see--the numbers are at least 80% visual, the rest, aural
observations--but with more effort to count those who were singing while I
was counting those I could see, I suspect the number would have been
200-300. An amazing day that I have never experienced before and will
unlikely do so again.

Good birding. And stay safe.
Scott Ramos
Seattle



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