Tweets -; The weather matched the weather forecast this morning, which wasn't too bad at all. From 7-10, we had mist and mizzle, and maybe a minute or two of drizzle, but nothing more severe. Not windy either. For a while after that it rained a bit harder, but then it stopped again while we were at the Rowing Club. So the weather was definitely better than last week. The birds were pretty good too.
Highlights:
a.. Cackling Goose -; maybe 1000+, including large flocks on the ground
b.. TRUMPETER SWAN -; two flew close over the Viewing Mound
c.. Virginia Rail -; one responded along the eastern section of the boardwalk. Our first detection in six weeks
d.. Bald Eagle -; adult SWIMMING in the lake. Later it pulled out on the floating dock and began eating whatever it had caught that was too heavy to take off with
e.. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL -; Matt heard one just south of the East Meadow, very early. First of Fall (FOF)
f.. Downy Woodpecker -; might have had 1-2 from the Lake Platform. *Did* have one at the Rowing Club. First in 3 weeks
g.. Merlin -; very quick flyby -; some gliding made us wonder if our ID was correct, but the wing length seemed right. And we've had Merlin 8 of the last 9 weeks
h.. Varied Thrush -; nice male at south end of Dog Meadow
i.. Cedar Waxwing -; at least one flock of about 20
j.. American Pipit -; one flyover across the East Meadow
k.. Lincoln's Sparrow -; I had at least two east of the East Meadow
l.. White-throated Sparrow -; one very tan-striped bird as we approached the weir
Two RIVER OTTERS had been on the floating dock just before the Bald Eagle climbed out on it.
Duck diversity should increase starting next week, judging by previous years.
Missing birds today included Western Grebe, Northern Shrike, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, American Goldfinch, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Despite all of those misses, we still managed 57 species, nine more than last week. Admittedly, many of those were heard-only and/or seen or heard by one or a few of us.
= Michael Hobbs
= www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
=
BirdMarymoor at gmail.com
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