Subject: Sequim Area Birding
Date: Feb 13 06:47:28 2001
From: W. William Woods - wwwbike at halcyon.com


Sunday, February 11 dawned crisp and sunny, a perfect day for taking
the ferry across the sound and driving to Sequim for a day of bicycle
birding. The first special sighting of the day occurred at our starting
point at John Wayne Marina on Sequim Bay, where a handsome Black
Oystercatcher vociferously declared its presence as it landed on a gravel
bar amongst the gulls. Sequim Bay also provided the last special sighting
of the day when we retuned from our bicycle ride -- a pair of Barrows
Goldeneyes swam near the large rock jetty, the bright orange bill of the
female absolutely glistening in the oblique rays of the sun setting behind
the foothills of the Olympic Mountains. There were other special sightings
during the ride , including 25 trumpeter swans with several immatures
in a field of winter wheat along Schmuck Road. By Lotzgesell Road on the
hill above the Olympic Game Farm were about 15 Bald Eagles, both mature
and immature, just sitting in the tops of dead snags and among the
branches of live fir trees, occasionally uttering their high-pitched
calls. It seems such an odd call for the bird who is at the top of the
food chain and our national emblem. At least as many Common Ravens flew
around the hill, loudly proclaiming their presence. A small colony of
prairie dogs in an enclosure behind the fence screamed and scurried in and
out of their burrows. All in all, it was a fascinating scene complete with
sound effects.
The ponds along Woodcock and Kitchen Dick roads provided sightings of
Mallard, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Scaup, Bufflehead, Coot and
Shoveler Ducks, the latter doing their strange swirling carrousel act with
heads and bills poked straight down in the water. It reminded us of the
way White Pelicans swim around together stirring up meals -- just never
observed that particular, very interesting activity of Shovelers before.
The pond in Sequim's Carrie Blake Park had two Eurasian Wigeons among the
American Wigeons. Hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds sang from every pond
and wetland, while a lone Mourning Dove flew over our heads and across a
pasture. Strangely, no Killdeer whatsoever. Passerines sighted included
many Robins, Steller's Jays, Song Sparrows, Black-capped Chickadees,
Golden-crowned Kinglets, Dark-eyed Juncos and Spotted Towhees, plus
single Brown Creeper , Bewick's Wren and Belted Kingfisher along the
Dungeness River. By the ferry dock in Edmonds, about a half dozen Pigeon
Guillemots in various stages of transition to spring plumage were swimming
along with Surf Scoters and Red-breasted Mergansers. Altogether a
wonderful day for birding and bicycling.

Bill and Erin Woods Woods Tree Farm Redmond, WA U.S.A.
<wwwbike at halcyon.com>