Today I led a field trip for Seattle Audubon to Spencer Island and the Everett STPs in Snohomish County. The morning was just a bit chilly, but we had some sunshine and enjoyed the lack of wind and rain.

We tallied 54 species. It was one of those days when nothing much unexpected shows up, but most of the regulars do, and the looks they allow are more than satisfying.

Highlights included DOWNY, HAIRY and PILEATED WOODPECKERS in close proximity to each other. A good study of size differences. Throughout the day, we enjoyed a number of NORTHERN FLICKERS.

Shorebirds were well represented by an unseen, but well heard BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, a couple of GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a flock of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 2 of which perched very close by, a handful of DUNLIN that included a single WESTERN SANDPIPER, and enough WILSON'S SNIPES to keep one happy for awhile.

Birds of prey included 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, RED-TAILED HAWKS (lost count of them), an adult BALD EAGLE, a bunch of NORTHERN HARRIERS, one adult COOPER'S HAWK and a juvenile SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. We also had a juvenile NORTHERN SHRIKE.

A nice assortment of sparrows near the hunting border north of the bridge presented us with close views of two tan-stripe WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS.

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS surrounded us at one point. Who knows how many there were. CEDAR WAXWINGS hawked insects from their lofty perches.

An AMERICAN PIPIT flushed from the cross dike trail; we heard others in flight as well.

It was a very satisfying day with good company and good birds.


Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net