Subject: San Juan Co. birding
Date: Sep 14 21:56:02 2003
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net
Hello Tweets,
Ken Knittle,Marv Breece and I birded San Juan Co. this weekend,specifically on Lopez and San Juan Islands and had an exceptional time checking several key birding locations on both these islands. We encountered a total of 110 species just for San Juan Co. with additional species added to and from destinations such as a visit to the West 90 dike bordering Padilla Bay in Skagit Co. on the Samish Flats on our way home on the 14th. The weather was very good on the evening of the 12th and on the 13th,where we began the day checking several locations on Lopez Island then traveled to San Juan Island and birded the remainder of the day. We spent the night on the western portion of San Juan Island on the 13th,where we awoke unexpectedly to rain,which remained through the morning until we left San Juan Island by 1pm. Despite the rain showers today we actually encountered probably our best highlights of the trip,specifically on San Juan Island amongst the vast open fields of American Camp. Our best highlight of the trop from several species was a single probable Skylark observed briefly flying over then dropping into taller grass at American Camp during our morning visit on the 14th,but not seen well enough to completely confirm,despite a second thorough search of the exact area made by us spreading out over the large,open wet grassy fields. We felt nearly sure of the identity of the species due to the flight pattern and behavior of the species followed by overall structure of the bird seen only in flight and having prior experience of the species. It is very possible that there could be a remaining Skylark at this well known specific location,but due to any searching of the area in recent years has yield this species with such a vast area of coverage. A few of certain species included increased numbers of migrating Turkey Vultures noted at several locations on both San Juan and Lopez Island on the 13th and 14th, good numbers of Belted Kingfishers that were observed in multiple numbers at nearly every water location we stopped, and very good numbers of Savannah Sparrows noted at many locations that hosted appropriate open,brushy habitat,being most likely gathering up for migration. Western and Least Sandpipers were present in small numbers at several locations such as at False Bay of both species on San Juan Island, and at Spencer Spit State Park and Fisherman's Bay areas on Lopez Island. Good numbers of Barn Swallows with smaller numbers of Violet-green Swallows were observed at several locations with 2 Cliff Swallows noted at Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island on the 13th,which seemed noteworthy for the date for that location. American Pipits were noted in moderate numbers at several location on both islands including the largest concentrations noted at Spencer Spit and Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island on the 13th and at American Camp on San Juan Co. on the 14th. Small numbers of both Orange-crowned Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers were noted widely at several locations with a few locations that hosted multiple birds in mixed passerine flocks,as were Lincoln's Sparrows of which the latter species seemed to have moved into areas of available marshy or weedy,brushy habitat.
During our visit to San Juan Co. we encountered several other notable species of which are noteworthy for this normally unbirded area of WA,as of recently and our combined efforts helped us yield these highlights such as the following species:
Red-throated Loon
3 observed flying north along the Friday Harbor-Anacortes Ferry in San Juan Co. on the 14th
Pacific Loon
2 off Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island on the 13th
Greater White-fronted Goose
4 birds observed along Kjargaard Rd. north of Richardson on Lopez Island on the 13th
Harlequin Duck
1 at Spencer Spit S.P. on Lopez Island on the 13th
10 at Cattle Point on San Juan Island on the 13th
Osprey
1 at Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island on the 13th
1 at the Three Meadows area on San Juan Island on the 13th
1 at False Bay on San Juan Island on the 13th
Cooper's Hawk
1 near Kjargaard Rd. on Lopez Island on the 13th
1 north of Spencer Spit S.P. on Lopez Island on the 13th
Am.Kestrel
1 near Friday Harbor on San Juan Island on the 14th
Merlin
1 at American Camp on Sand Juan Island on the 14th
Black-bellied Plover
2 at American Camp on San Juan Island on the 14th
Pacific Golden Plover
1 at American Camp on San Juan Island on the 14th
American Golden Plover
10 at American Camp on San Juan Island on the 14th
Black Oystercatcher
6 at the Shark Reef Sanctuary on Lopez Island on the 13th
2 at Cattle Point on San Juan Island on the 13th
2 at Jackson Beach near Friday Harbor on San Juan Island on the 14th
Greater Yellowlegs
1 heard calling at American Camp on Sand Juan Island on the 14th
5 at Jackson Beach near Friday Harbor in San Juan Island on the 14th
Lesser Yellowlegs
1 along Channel Rd. west of Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island on the 13th
Baird's Sandpiper
1 heard calling at Spencer Spit S.P. on Lopez Island on the 13th
Short-billed Dowitcher
2 at Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island on the 13th
Long-billed Dowitcher
2 probable birds observed along Channel Rd. on Lopez Island on the 13th
3 heard calling and seen over American Camp on San Juan Island on the 14th
Red-necked Phalarope
1 at Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island on the 13th
55+ at the Shark Reef Sanctuary on Lopez Island on the 13th
5 off Cattle Point on San Juan Island on the 13th
4 off the Friday Harbor-Anacortes Ferry in San Juan Co. on the 14th
Bonaparte's Gull
75+ off the Friday Harbor-Anacortes Ferry in San Juan Co. on the 14th
Marbled Murrelet
2 at the Shark Reef Sanctuary on Lopez Island on the 13th
18+ off Jackson Beach near Friday Harbor on San Juan Island on the 14th
Northern Saw-whet Owl(first species of the trip)
2 heard calling at Spencer Spit S.P. on Lopez Island on the morning of the13th
Common Nighthawk(noteworthy date for location)
1 actively hunting at American Camp on San Juan Island on the evening of the 13th
Vaux's Swift
2 over Hummel Lake on Lopez Island on the 13th
3 along Kjargaard Rd. on Lopez Island on the 13th
1 over the Lopez Island Ferry Terminal on Lopez Island on the 13th
15+ over American Camp on San Juan Island on the 14th
Pileated Woodpecker
2 at the Shark Reef Sanctuary on Lopez Island on the 13th
Horned Lark
2 at American Camp on San Juan Island(presumably of the Arctic race due to overall plumage,structure and color,as well as location)
Black-capped Chickadee(very difficult to encounter in San Juan Co.)
1 observed at Hummel Lake on Lopez Island on the 13th
House Wren(noteworthy date for location)
1 at Hummel Lake on Lopez Island on the 13th
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
1 at the Three Meadows area on San Juan Island on the 13th
Swainson's Thrush(noteworthy for date at location)
1 near American Camp on San Juan Island on the 14th
Hutton' s Vireo
3 at Spencer Spit S.P. on Lopez Island on the 13th
1 at Hummel Lake on Lopez Island on the 13th
2 at the Shark Reef Sanctuary on Lopez Island on the 13th
Yellow Warbler
3 at Spencer Spit S.P. on Lopez Island on the 13th
1 at Hummel Lake on Lopez Island on the 13th
2 at the Three Meadows area on San Juan Island on the 13th
1 at American Camp on San Juan Island on the 14th
Black-throated Gray Warbler
1 at the Three Meadows area on San Juan Island on the 13th
Townsend's Warbler
2 at the Three Meadows area on San Juan Island on the 13th
Vesper Sparrow(noteworthy for date at location)
1 probable bird at American Camp on San Juan Island on the 14th
"Sooty"Fox Sparrow
1 along Channel Rd. on Lopez Island on the 13th
Golden-crowned Sparrow
2 at Spencer Spit S.P. on Lopez Island on the 13th
3 along Channel Rd. on Lopez Island on the 13th
1 at the Lopez Island Ferry Terminal on the 13th
3 at the Three Meadows area on San Juan Island on the 13th
1 at American Camp on San Juan Island on the 14th
On our way home as mentioned previously we checked the West 90 area on the Samish Flats in Skagit Co.after we located a few additional species to add to our trip list beginning with an adult Peregrine Falcon observed along Bayview-Edison Rd. south of D'Arcy Rd. pursuing,catching then eating an apparent Barn Swallow on the wing,as we continued north with 12 Turkey Vultures nearby. At the West 90 we hiked to the dike bordering Padilla Bay after checking the dry West 90"ponds"(that hosted good numbers of Am.Pipits and Savannah Sparrows)and located a small assortment of shorebirds and other species along the exposed mudflats including the following:
7 Turkey Vultures
5 Northern Harriers
1 juvenile Peregrine Falcon
25 Black-bellied Plovers
1 Red Knot
3 Western Sandpipers
5 Short-billed Dowitchers
6 Caspian Terns
7 Lincoln's Sparrows
In addition to birding we noted several marine mammal species including Harbor Porpoises that were observed at several locations on both islands,as well as from the ferry from Lopez Island to San Juan Island. European Hares were very widespread on both islands with the high amounts noted on Lopez Island and 2 Red Foxes were noted at American Camp during our visit on the evening of the 13th.
Good birding,
Patrick Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net
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