Hi Ho Tweets -

Yesterday (pardon the delay) seven of us from Seattle Audubon journeyed
up to Whidbey on what turned out to be an absolutely fabulous day -
clear and sunny all day, little wind, good temperature and best of all
lots of gorgeous birds. The ferry trip over from Mulkilteo to Clinton
was birdier than I have ever experienced. Pigeon Guillemots off Mukilteo
as well as a couple of Marbled Murrelets (the only ones of the day). The
Mew Gulls were gathering along the shore near Whidbey, there must have
been close to 300 on the water or flying in from the south. Mixed in
were a scattering of Bonaparte's Gulls in nice breeding plumage with
black heads and a nice Caspian Tern flew by. Glaucous-winged Gulls were
generally visible and a California Gull flew over the ferry. Closer to
Clinton we had Western Grebe, Horned Grebe in breeding plumage, Surf
Scoter, Common Goldeneye, a Brandt's Cormorant flyby, a Pelagic
Cormorant and a couple of Double-crested Cormorants. Rhinoceros Auklets
were flying by occasionally.

From Clinton we headed inland to our first stop at the marsh along
Ewing Road and along the way a Red-breasted Sapsucker flew across the
road. At the marsh there was much activity. In the marsh we had Canada
Goose, Gadwall, American Wigeon in the grass feeding, Mallard, Northern
Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, and just as we were
getting disappointed at not seeing Cinnamon Teal (this is a great spot
for them) in flew a pair. A Pied-billed Grebe was visible. Many of these
birds, while somewhat distant, gave us excellent scope views. In the wet
"upland" areas to the west of the marsh proper we spotted 3 Wilson's
Snipe, and then with some more inspection we found at least 20 more
feeding like crazy. A Greater Yellowlegs was in the same area, and
another was located a little further south at the edge of the marsh.
Several Killdeer were also present. The Red-winged Blackbirds were very
vocal and obvious flying from perch to perch. One on the highlights was
the calling Sora, there were probably at least 4 that we definitely
heard repeatedly and there may have been more, and one Virginia Rail
called a single time. The swallows are back in force - we had great
looks at perched and flying Violet-green, Tree, Northern Rough-winged
and Cliff. An immature Bald Eagle perched in a tree across the marsh.
House Finches were singing and flying all around, White-crowned Sparrows
were constantly singing, a couple of Dark-eyed Juncos flitted west of
the road, and a female/immature Red Crossbill was in a probably fruit
tree with lichens on the trunk and new growth just the yellow-green
color of the bird. Some European Starlings made their appearance, and a
Downy Woodpecker was briefly seen. Also seen were Northern Harrier, Rock
Pigeon and a Rufous Hummingbird.

We stopped at Double-bluff and got distant views of Red-breasted
Merganser, Common Loon, Surf Scoter, and Pigeon Guillemot. Two adult
Bald Eagles were perched on the ridge behind us, and two immatures came
cruising past. A Bonaparte's Gull landed near the point. Song Sparrows,
a White-crowned Sparrow and a Bewick's Wren were all singing from the
thickets. On the way out, at the bend in the road where the marsh is
nicely visible were saw many more ducks adding Northern Shoveler, Common
Yellowthroat (perching closely and singing), copulating Song Sparrows
and singing Marsh Wrens.

At Bush Point we had Pigeon Guillemots and Red-breasted Mergansers
feeding in the north flowing current as well a Rhinoceros Auklets, and a
Common Loon. A little ways further off shore was a group of at least
10-12 Harbor Porpoise - one of the larger groups I have seen, and closer
in a Harbor Seal. A Belted Kingfisher flew by.

We pushed on up to Crockett Lake and could see distant ducks (same
species as already seen) as well as several breeding plumage
Black-bellied Plover, a number of Dunlin some of them showing black
bellies and a few Western Sandpipers. The Savannah Sparrows were singing
up a storm in the grassland along the edge of the lake. About 8 Great
Blue Heron were working the west end of the lake over.

At the picnic area at Fort Casey, during our lunch stop we had a light
morph Red-tailed Hawk soaring overhead, a Rufous Hummingbird,
Black-capped Chickadee, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,
Bewick's Wren, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned
Kinglet, American Robin, a probable Orange-crowned Warbler (heard and
briefly seen), Spotted Towhee and American Goldfinch. Out at the bluff
we had additional views of Rhinoceros Auklet, Pigeon Guillemot,
Red-necked Grebe, and Pelagic Cormorant.

In Coupeville, at the boat launch we had both Common and Barrow's
Goldeneye, Surf Scoter and Common Loon. A San de Fuca we had better
looks at Surf Scoter but no other scoter species, nor any rocky
shorebirds. At Partridge Point we had a pair of feeding Harlequin Duck
at the surfline, and four Black Oystercatchers a short distance away.

At the end of Hastie Lake Road we saw additional Harlequin Duck,
scoters, Red-breasted Merganser, Pigeon Guillemot, Mew Gulls as well as
Glaucous-winged, Long-tailed Duck and Pacific Loon further offshore. A
ways down the road at Swantown the lake held many of the previously seen
ducks, but also Bufflehead, Greater and Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Duck.

Other birds seen along the way include Ring-necked Pheasant, California
Quail, Turkey Vulture, American Coot, Mourning Dove, Common Raven,
Steller's Jay, Barn Swallow, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch and House
Sparrow. A total of 93 species for Whidbey.

On the way home two of us stopped by Juanita Bay Park briefly and in
addition to the ducks previously seen added Common and Hooded Merganser
and Wood Duck pairs. These three brought us to 96 for the day.

Several people on the trip were fortunate to see life birds, and all of
us were given many outstanding views and studies of many gorgeous birds
under beautiful conditions.

Complete list follows.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA
bellasoc at isomedia.com

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormarant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Virginia Rail
Sora
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oyestercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Western Sandpiper
Dunlin
Wilson's Snipe
Bonaparte's Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Caspian Tern
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Rhinoceros Auklet
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler?
Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow