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Dawn Chorus: Union Bay, Washington, in Spring [1]
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Date: 2025-05-11
In recent years my younger daughter has introduced me to several Seattle parks that are very popular with local birders. The two on Lake Washington are of especial interest, Magnuson and Union Bay. The latter is on the University of Washington campus and boasts a list on ebird of 266 species that have been observed there. I am certain of getting at least twenty birds on any visit and the latest (April 13, 2025) produced 27 species. On the last day of 2024, my younger daughter and I got 31 species and on the last day of 2023, we spotted our first Trumpeter Swans! Since our first visit in February 2023, we have seen 52 species of birds there.
The Union Bay Natural Area is famous among Washington birders and a great area for students and residents in Seattle to not only bird watch, but hike, run, dog walk and kayak. However, it wasn’t always that way. Not many years ago it was literally a dump and years before that it was part of a large marsh. The dump was ended in 1966 and part of what was a marsh has been in the process of restoration for years since (See: en.wikipedia.org/...). While it is only a small part of the former marsh, Union Bay Natural Area is a remarkable testament that such areas can at least be partially reclaimed to serve as habitat for numerous wildlife species, if the will is there to do so.
This following photos were taken Sunday, April 13, 2025. This visit also produced our first of the year Osprey, a Savannah Sparrow, multiple American Crows, a group of Common Mergansers on Lake Washington, along with a female Hooded Merganser. American Goldfinches seemed to crowd into one tree, Song Sparrows showed up here and there.
American Coot in Ravenna Creek, Union Bay Natural Area.
Ring-necked Duck male in Ravenna Creek, Union Bay Natural Area.
Canada Geese in Ravenna Creek, Union Bay Natural Area.
Great Blue Heron on roadway, Union Bay Natural Area.
Tree Swallow, Union Bay Natural Area.
Male Gadwall, Ravenna Creek, Union Bay Natural Area.
Pied-billed Grebe, Union Bay Natural Area.
We had turtle sighting from the same trip. Unfortunately a melanistic Red-eared Slider, instead of the Northwestern Pond Turtle I had hoped it was! I am adding a photo of normal Red-eared Sliders from Magnuson Park and of the Painted Turtle (native) from Union Bay, both from last year.
Melanistic Red-eared Slider, Union Bay Natural Area. A result of the baby turtle craze.
Normal Red-eared Sliders, Magnuson Park, near Union Bay, Seattle, 2024.
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