Hi Tweets

The Washington Ornithological Society led a trip to the Olympic Peninsula yesterday. It was an unusual trip do be looking for birds in a snowy countryside on the peninsula. We started out the day under overcast skies and 23F temperatures. At the Edmonds ferry terminal we saw PIGEON GUILLEMOT, HORNED GREBE, RED-NECKED GREBE, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and MEW GULL. As we crossed the Sound a couple of PACIFIC LOONs flew south and a RED-NECKED GREBE did also and a BRANDT'S CORMORANT flew by. In the middle of the Sound a small group of 6 BRANT floated on the water until lifting off as the ferry got close. Several groups of WESTERN GREBEs were in the distance. A couple of COMMON GOLDENEYE were near the Kingston terminal along with DOUBLE-CRESTED and PELAGIC CORMORANTs.

We bypassed many of the Kitsap birding locations in order to get out to the Olympic Peninsula as soon as we could. We were back in snow country then and for the rest of the day. A couple of BALD EAGLEs were sighted along the way. As we entered the Sequim area a NORTHERN SHRIKE was perched by the side of the road. A couple of ROCK PIGEONs were on light poles. Our first stop was at Dungeness Landing County Park and we made our way down the slope over the snowy/ice on the road. A NORTHERN HARRIER circled the area. The tide was high so most of the birds were quite distant, but a group of TRUMPETER SWANs was foraging along the shoreline to the southeast. Waterfowl included MALLARDs, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, CANADA GOOSE, SURF SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. A KILLDEER was in the distance as was a DUNLIN. Several BALD EAGLEs were perched around the area. Cormorants fished in the waters. A BEWICK'S WREN called from the hillside and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen. Several GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWs were on the ground. A nice adult WESTERN GULL floated on the water. A collection of gulls loafed on the parking lot, mostly all GLAUCOUS-WINGED and GLAUCOUS-WINGED/WESTER hybrids. One unusual gull stood out - close inspection showed that it was a SLATY-BACKED GULL with very dark mantle, bright pink legs, light eye and heavy streaking on the head (particularly around the eye and the back of the head). This was the first location where we had light touches of flying snow on our faces, but in continued for the rest of the day.

On the way to Three Crabs we saw EURASIAN COLLARED DOVEs and MOURNING DOVE. A pair of RED-TAILED HAWKs were in a tree along the way. More distant gulls and wigeon. The small creek just before the Three Crabs restaurant yielded GADWALL, HOODED MERGANSER, BELTED KINGFISHER. In the distance a raptor shape in a deciduous tree attracted our attention. It turned out to be a PEREGRINE FALCON. On the way back into Sequim a small raptor on a telephone pole top caused us to pause - it was a MERLIN.

We drove out to Washington Harbor and scanned the gulls on the bay - lots and lots of GLAUCOUS-WINGED and hybrid gulls. In addition there were few RING-BILLED and CALIFORNIA GULLs. A huge group (maybe 1500) of AMERICAN WIGEON were on the bay or working the field behind. They all lifted when a BALD EAGLE made a low pass over them. When they settled down we scanned them an pulled out at least two EURASIAN WIGEON. GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, MALLARDs, and four GREATER SCAUP were present. At least a dozen GREAT BLUE HERONs were on the mudflats. Around the corner at the John Wayne Marina we saw still more BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBEs, gulls, and three LONG-TAILED DUCKs. Some CANADA GEESE flew overhead.

We then drove around to Port Townsend and out to Fort Worden. We parked looking over the Strait of Juan de Fuca and ate lunch in the cars because of the wind. A couple of AMERICAN CROWs perched on the fence rail looking for a handout - they departed disappointed. After lunch we drove to the lighthouse parking lot and walked out to Point Wilson. The wind was stiff and very cold (temperature was still below freezing) but we stuck it out to scan the entrance to Admiralty Inlet in spite of the snow stinging our faces. We had groups of COMMON MURREs, RHINOCEROS AUKLETs, and PIGEON GUILLEMOTs fly by. Several pairs of MARBLED MURRELETs also flew by. RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs, RED-NECKED GREBEs, HORNED GREBEs would land, several HARLEQUIN DUCKs landed right in front of us and a COMMON LOON was in the distance. A couple of SONG SPARROWs foraged among the rocks. At Point Hudson by downtown we again scanned the waters picking up more of the same that we had at Point Wilson and got close looks at some BRANT. We did finally manage to get a good look at MARBLED MURRELETs that one member of the group had particularly wanted to see. A stop at Kah Tai Lagoon had more MALLARDs, a couple of AMERICAN COOTs, and in addition a nice flock of RUDDY DUCKs. Some CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEEs flew past us. We flushed a WILSON'S SNIPE.

Along the way we also saw NORTHERN FLICKER, STELLER'S JAY, COMMON RAVEN, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, EUROPEAN STARLING, SPOTTED TOWHEE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD and PURPLE FINCH. As we waited at the Kingston ferry terminal we saw several nice BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. We finished a cold, windy, somewhat snowy day with 69 species.

The snow picked up on the ferry ride back and as we returned to our meeting place. We felt that we had done quite well in avoiding the snow during the day. All in all we had a good birding day.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
mail to bell asoc at iso media dot com