Subject: [Tweeters] Foulweather Bluff
Date: Nov 21 20:12:15 2010
From: Jon Leland - jon_leland at yahoo.com


Tweets,

While enjoying a cold and snowy day today on the North Kitsap peninsula, I encountered a House Wren at Foulweather Bluff. I was quite shocked since I'd never seen a House Wren this late in the year (and actually, had never seen one in Kitsap County at all until now) so I followed it along the beach for a good 5 minutes or so. Here are my field notes.

"much larger than a Pacific Wren, with a longer decurved beak. No white/grey superciliar stripe as would be seen on a Bewicks wren, and beak was lighter colored and more sharply downcurved than Bewick as well. Color much lighter than Bewick, and more greyish as opposed to brownish color of Bewick. Seen in grases and driftwood along shoreline, with good sustained views. Curious, responds to pish. Somewhat cryptic pattern on wings and tail, reminiscent of a Pacific Wren, but lighter and different color. Tail not cocked up as would be seen with Bewicks or Pacific, and appears to be longer, almost as long as a Song Sparrow's tail. Underside was a buffy color that contrasted with back -- quite similar in color to the sand. Lacked complex reddish pattern on wings as seen in Marsh Wren. Different call than Pacific,Bewicks,or Marsh wrens"

At the same location, I watched 2 Peregrine Falcons in what I assume must have been some kind of alarm call in response to a nearby Juvenile Bald Eagle. They were making very loud and screetchy harsh kak calls repeatedly while flying in tight circles around the top of a tree right out where the bluff meets the trail, and their wings were flapping very shallowly and with a fast cadence. Very strange as normally I only see Peregrine's flying at about Mach 3 or so, with their wings sharply angled and deep, powerful strokes.

I always seem to find something new and unexpected at Foulweather Bluff.

Here is my full ebird observation report:

Location name: Foulweather Bluff, Kitsap, WA
Date/Time: 11/21/2010 2:00-3:30pm

120 American Wigeon
25 Mallard
12 Surf Scoter
2 White-winged Scoter
25 Bufflehead
6 Common Goldeneye
8 Hooded Merganser
6 Red-breasted Merganser
4 Common Loon
30 Horned Grebe
4 Double-crested Cormorant
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Bald Eagle
2 Peregrine Falcon
X Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)
12 Glaucous-winged Gull
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Steller's Jay
14 American Crow
2 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
1 House Wren
4 Winter Wren (Western)
2 Golden-crowned Kinglet
10 American Robin
2 Varied Thrush
1 Song Sparrow
10 Red-winged Blackbird


Warmest Regards,
Jon Leland
Seattle, WA