Hi Tweets

Yesterday, I led a field trip for the Washington Ornithological Society to Whidbey Island. As the day started it was uncertain whether we could expect rain during the trip. We arrived at Mukilteo just after a ferry had left for Clinton, so we had time to walk down to the fishing pier to check for birds. There was a breeding plumage MARBLED MURRELET loafing and diving just off the pier, with at least two others nearby. To the east were 4 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and a couple of RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. Two CASPIAN TERNS flew over as did several GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS (GWGU)

As our ferry pulled away from the terminal, misty rain could be seen over the channel, and we initially felt some drops. This wetness proceeded to pull away to the northeast, and we had two COMMON MURRES fly past us to the north. Closer to Clinton were a bunch of gulls, all GWGU with exception of one HEERMANN'S GULL. A GREAT BLUE HERON hung around the terminal. The slight wetness we felt at the start of the ferry ride was the last we experienced during virtually the rest of the day.

We stopped by the seasonal wetland on Ewing Road (along the way we saw a MOURNING DOVE) and had many VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, including lots of juveniles. on the wires. An OSPREY was perched near the nest and a second one later flew into the nest. The wetland is essentially dried up, but BARN, CLIFF and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were making the rounds. A WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE called in the distance, a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW sang across the road near the house, a few AMERICAN ROBINS and EUROPEAN STARLINGS were around, a distant COMMON YELLOWTHROAT sang from down in the reeds, and a SONG SPARROW sounded off. All of the juvenile swallows meant we really had to look intently at each to determine the species.

At Sunlight Beach Road the view of the mudflats at the eastern part of Deer Lagoon was covered with shorebirds, including several WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS literally at our feet. These birds were feeding so intently that they ignored us. One of the Westerns was still in bright breeding plumage and was quite a contrast next to the brown Least. This Western obviously knew he was king of the hill as any time any other sandpiper came near him he chased it off. Two KILLDEER proceeded to change places frequently. Further out on the mudflats were two groups of dowitchers, one group of six LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and even further out a group of about 30 Long-billeds. A nice BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER with a nice black belly was out near them. A couple of GREATER YELLOWLEGS were there along with GREAT BLUE HERON, CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED GULLS. We stopped at the dike access just east and had great binocular and scope looks at more dowitchers, virtually all still in breeding plumage (all Long-billeds). Down the slough to the east were MALLARDS and GADWALL. A BALD EAGLE was overhead.

Next we made a stop at Earth Sanctuary, really beautiful after the rain. WOOD DUCKS and HOODED MERGANSERS were present, along with young of several ages. A PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER called overhead, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, a BELTED KINGFISHER was across the main pond, CEDAR WAXWINGS were over the pond, a NORTHERN FLICKER called and then flew. Lots and lots of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, most of which were young ones were cruising over the pond. SONG, SPARROW and SPOTTED TOWHEE and SWAINSON'S THRUSH sang, a PURPLE FINCH sang and hid from us, a very agitated Robin kept up its protests but we couldn't track down what the problem was.

Tide was mostly in at Double Bluff with a group of BONAPARTE'S GULLS rafting up about 200 yards out. More PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were on Useless Bay. Five SURF SCOTERS were down near the bluff.

Crockett Lake was surprisingly empty of birds. About 15 CASPIAN TERNS loafed near the south shore. A group of 12 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were feeding with one different bird amongst them. We walked out to the edge of the marsh and scoped them out - a single SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was the odd bird out. Small numbers of WESTERN SANDPIPERS were foraging on the mud. Scattered about were more GREATER YELLOWLEGS. SAVANNAH SPARROWS were perched on tall grass stalks. A male PURPLE MARTIN came in briefly to the next boxes, and then flew off.

At the ferry terminal access an adult and juvenile PELAGIC CORMORANT were perched on the old structure, with many PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, and several ROCK PIGEONS. The usual mixed flock of gulls was on the jetty, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and GWGU-WESTERN hybrids, and several HEERMANN'S GULLS including both adults and juveniles. A single HARLEQUIN DUCK was diving just off the beach.

We made an early lunch stop at Fort Casey in the picnic area. Notable were several young BARN SWALLOWS sitting on the pavement and patiently waiting for mom or dad to come in and feed them. Singing around us were OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, BEWICK'S WREN, SONG SPARROW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BROWN CREEPER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. A downy young GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was flitting about as were several BUSHTITS - at one point four were snuggled up together as tight as could be on a branch. An AMERICAN GOLDFINCH was present. At this point we had enjoyed a warm, mostly cloudy day that was beginning to breakup.

Libby Beach was devoid of birds for a change, so we moseyed up the road to the Hastie Lake Rd. access. The HOUSE SPARROWS were making a fuss, off shore were some SURF SCOTERS, PIGEON GUILLEMOTS and RHINOCEROS AUKLETS. A couple of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS caught us by surprise and had almost flown past before we noticed.

At Swantown we continued to see the same alcids on the Strait, a single COMMON LOON was waaaaay out. A nice breeding plumage HORNED GREBE was just off the lookout point. Across the road in Bos Lake there were MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS (including five showing extreme variations of breeding plumage wear). Two DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were on the far side of the lake, a NORTHERN HARRIER was over the area and a RED-TAILED HAWK was perched on a pole.

Dugualla Bay had a couple of hundred gulls on the bay side, mostly CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED. The pond had more KILLDEER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and GADWALL with young of at least four different ages.

We tried to stop at Rosario Beach, but a large wedding party was there so we moved on.

On the way down to Stanwood we skirted edge of a large shower, but only got a few drops on the windshield. Our final stop of the day was at the Stanwood Sewage Ponds, where a good variety of ducks were present. These included MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GADWALL, RUDDY DUCK, CINNAMON TEAL, a single NORTHERN SHOVELER, among the swallows was a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED, and just outside of the ponds on a wet area some GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Two COMMON YELLOWTHROATS yelled at each other across the road.

Other birds seen along the way included: CANADA GOOSE, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, WESTERN GREBE, TURKEY VULTURE, AMERICAN COOT, ANNA'S and RUFUOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, STELLER'S JAY, AMERICAN CROW, TREE SWALLOW, MARSH WREN, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED-WINGED and BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and HOUSE FINCH.

We picked up occasional raindrops on the way home but never had much in the way of rain. It wasn't until I was on the way up the hill to my house that it began to rain. All in all a great day after the recent rainy weather. All on the trip enjoyed the excellent looks we had at many birds, and finished with 86 species. Whidbey lived up to its reputation for good birding any time of year, even during the "slow" summer.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
bell assoc at isomedia dot com