Hi Tweets

Five of us took a WOS trip that I lead to Marrowstone Island and Port Townsend. We started out on the Edmonds-Kingston ferry with PIGEON GUILLEMOTs, PELAGIC CORMORANT, SURF SCOTER, and HORNED GREBE. Part of the way across the Sound we had three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERs fly by, our only ones of the day. We had a small flock of BONAPARTE'S GULLs, CALIFORNIA GULL and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. Lots of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTs at the Kingston Ferry terminal.

Our first stop was at Point No Point where the local flock of HEERMANN'S GULLs were present on the old pier. A BALD EAGLE perched in one of the local trees. Otherwise we didn't have many birds. Down near the Hansville Grocery we saw three EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVEs on the lines, and in some scrubby vegetation we saw AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, WHITE-CROWNED, GOLDEN-CROWNED, SONG and FOX SPARROWs.

We pushed on to Oak Bay County Park and found NORTHERN PINTAIL, a couple of GREEN-W-INGED TEAL, RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA, GLAUCOUS-WINGED and MEW GULLs. On crossing the bridge onto Indian Island we stopped immediately at the small county park. We walked part of the Portage Trail and found SONG, FOX SPARROW, BEWICK'S WREN, SPOTTED TOWHEE, HOUSE FINCH, CEDAR WAXWING, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. But the highlight was a tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. The White-throat was first seen about 50 yards down the trail off on the road side of the trail.

At Indian Island County Park we could pick out BLACK TURNSTONES (about 30), a SURFBIRD, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, SURF SCOTERS, BELTED KINGFISHER, BALD EAGLE, BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, COMMON MERGANSER, and a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. A COMMON LOON closely accompanied by a PACIFIC LOON slowly cruised along giving us great looks.

As we came into Nordland we had four LESSER YELLOWLEGS with a GREATER YELLOWLEGS resting on the edge of Mystery Bay. Around at Mystery Bay State Park we saw HORNED GREBE, HOODED MERGANSER, and BELTED KINGFISHER.

As we entered Fort Flagler State Park we had a probable COOPER'S HAWK blast right across in front of our car. Out at West Beach we saw all three cormorants with DOUBLE-CRESTED, PELAGIC and BRANDT'S sitting side by side on a post, RED-NECKED GREBE, HORNED GREBE, and SURF SCOTER and HARLEQUIN DUCK. We hiked out to the end of the spit and scoped the spit across the channel on Indian Island. There we saw a group of at least 35 HARLEQUIN DUCKs, perhaps 25+ SANDERLINGs, maybe 30 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERs and a single DUNLIN. In the trees near the camping area we saw a White-crowned Sparrow and about 30 BUSHTITs.

At Point Wilson we picked up RHINOCEROS AUKLET, COMMON MURRE, MARBLED MURRELET, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBEs, COMMON LOON, PACIFIC LOON, PIGEON GUILLEMOT.

At Kah Tai Park there were RUDDY DUCKs, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, NORTHERN PINTAIL, MALLARD, BUFFLEHEAD, AMERICAN WIGEON, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and VIRGINIA RAIL (heard). Also two Mute Swans.

On the way home we saw RED-TAILED HAWK in Chimacum. At Port Gambel, we saw GOLDEN-CROWNED, WHITE-CROWNED, SONG, FOX SPARROWs, SPOTTED TOWHEE, BELTED KINGFISHER, HORNED GREBE, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, COMMON LOON, RED-NECKED GREBE, WESTERN GREBE.

Elsewhere we saw GREAT BLUE HERON, ROCK PIGEON, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, MOURNING DOVE, NORTHERN FLICKER, STELLER'S JAY, AMERICAN CROWs (lots), CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and HOUSE SPARROW.

We had some clouds early, but they burned off quickly and we had a warm, windless day. A great time in the field with good companions. 74 species for the day.

Good Birding,

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA
mail to bell asoc at isomedia dot com