Tweets -; It was colder and darker that we would have hoped for this morning, but the rain stopped at about 5:30 a.m. (before the walk), and we never got more than a few drops after that. It was pretty birdy, with a good mix of lingering winter birds and spring arrivals, but the birds were not always terribly cooperative.

Highlights: (FOY) = First of Year for the survey. Most of our FOY birds had been seen in the park already before today
a.. Cackling Goose -; low flyover of a flock of 50+. We've only ever had 5 later sightings in April, and none in May
b.. American Wigeon -; several on grass soccier fields. Still 9 species of wintering ducks total
c.. Wilson's Snipe -; about 5 in the slough below the weir. These might stick around 1-2 more weeks
d.. Great Blue Herons -; eggshells on the ground under the heronry, "grum grum grum" baby noises from the nests
e.. Northern Harrier -; one over the East Meadow -; (FOY)
f.. Purple Martin -; one in a gourd -; (FOY)
g.. Cliff Swallow -; several over the lake, seen from the Lake Platform (FOY)
h.. American Pipit -; eleven flew over the Viewing Mound and landed in the East Meadow (FOY)
i.. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW -; still returning to the mowed grass trail, NE part of the East Meadow -; New for the park Tuesday.
j.. Fox Sparrow -; down to just one, heard only
k.. White-crowned Sparrow -; quite numerous (25+), with all but one or two being Gambelii
l.. Lincoln's Sparrow -; one in the Pea Patch (FOY)
m.. Western Meadowlark -; two in the East Meadow
n.. Brown-headed Cowbird -; at least four or five (FOY)
o.. Yellow-rumped Warbler - 50+, with about 1-in-8 being Myrtle, the rest Audubon's. They were everywhere
p.. Black-throated Gray Warbler -; one heard singing across the slough from the windmill (FOY)
Misses today included Pied-billed Grebe, Hairy Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, and Hermit Thrush.

For the day, 69 species.

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