Hi Tweets

Thirteen Auduboners from Eastside Audubon took a trip yesterday to Marrowstone Island and Port Townsend. The day started out clear and sunny and cold (28F). At the Edmonds ferry terminal Mt. Baker stood out perfectly clear and gorgeous under the early morning sun. Around the terminal were HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBEs, PELAGIC CORMORANTs, PIGEON GUILLEMOSTs, SURF SCOTERs, a single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and a couple of GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLs and a CALIFORNIA GULL. A ways out a few MEW GULLs came by. Out in the middle of the Sound were a couple of small flocks of BRANT. A PACIFIC LOON flew by. At the Kingston ferry terminal were lots of SURF SCOTERs, several COMMON GOLDENEYE and a couple of PIGEON GUILLEMOTs. A few DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTs were there.

Our first stop was at Port Gamble and we scanned the bay, picking up more PIGEON GUILLEMOTs, HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBEs, SURF SCOTERs, COMMON GOLDENEYE and a single female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, a small flock of GREATER SCAUP, about 5 or 6 LONG-TAILED DUCKs, lots of BUFFLEHEAD, and lots of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs. A single RED-THROATED LOON and a couple of COMMON LOONs were present. One GREAT BLUE HERON perched on the old pilings. Two adult BALD EAGLEs perched on a channel marker, a couple of AMERICAN CROWs and AMERICAN ROBINs flew thru, and a single SPOTTED TOWHEE mewed from down in the bushes (wouldn't cooperate and come out).

Around the corner, at Salsbury Point County Park, we picked up more PIGEON GUILLEMOTs, a single RHINOCEROS AUKLET, a couple of distant MARBLED MURRELTs, more SURF SCOTERs, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs, more BUFFLEHEAD, RED-NECKED and HORNED GREBEs, a COMMON LOON. As we entered the park a coupld of BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEEs flew over the road. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW worked on the lawn. A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET fled from tree to tree and gave tantalizing views.

Across the Hood Canal, at Shine Tidelands State Park we picked up WHITE-CROWNED, GOLDEN-CROWNED, FOX and SONG SPARROWs, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, AMERICAN ROBIN, VARIED THRUSH, NORTHERN FLICKER, DOWNY WOODPECKER, and RED-TAILED HAWK high overhead. Just as we arrived we heard and very briefly saw a BELTED KINGFISHER. On the water were the same mix of SURF SCOTERs, PIGEON GUILLEMOTs, and HORNED GREBEs.

Next we headed for Oak Bay. The day continued clear and sunny and had warmed up to 34 degrees. Along the way we had two BUSHTITs fly across the road. At Oak Bay County Park we had a good size group of NORTHERN PINTAIL, a few AMERICAN WIGEON, two GREEN-WINGED TEAL, two COMMON MERGANSER and a HOODED MERGANSER. A BALD EAGLE was overhead. A distant group of gulls loafed on the shore - too distant to identify. Scanning the jetty from a distance we could barely make out BLACK TURNSTONEs and a couple of SURFBIRDs. A stop at Indian Island park (by the entrance to the Navy facility) produced FOX and SONG SPARROWs, DARK-EYED JUNCOs, a fairly cooperative PACIFIC WREN, a brief look at a BEWICK'S WREN, a couple more calling SPOTTED TOWHEEs.

Further along at the county park we were able to scan the jetty from a closer distance and under better light - BLACK TURNSTONEs and SURFBIRDs. On a log were some HARLEQUIN DUCKs. Overhead a BALD EAGLE circled, and a MERLIN perched briefly, flew to another perch and then departed. A COMMON RAVEN groaked as it flew past.

At Nordland we had a large group of female COMMON MERGANSERs (including 3 males) and some BUFFLEHEAD. At Mystery Bay State Park we saw more SURF SCOTERs, a couple of PIGEON GUILLEMOTs and some KILLDEER. A RED-TAILED HAWK flew by high up in the sky. We made our lunch stop here and enjoyed the day.

On the way to Ft. Flagler, near the Recreational Vehicle park we saw a small flock of CANADA GEESE. Out at the west beach at Fort Flagler State Park, we saw COMMON LOON, SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBEs, DOUBLE-CRESTED, BRANDT'S and PELAGIC CORMORANTs. On the spit we had 5 or 6 SANDERLINGs (quite close), a couple of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and some DUNLIN at a distance. Over by Marrowstone Point the lagoon was filled with MALLARDs, our first of the day. A Sealion broke the surface a couple of times.

We made our way over to Port Townsend and Fort Warden State Park. Out at Point Wilson, we saw still more HORNED and RED-NECKED GREBEs, a couple of COMMON LOONs, BUFFLEHEAD, and distant flybys of MARBLED MURRELETs, RHINOCEROS AUKLETs, a couple of COMMON MURREs and a small, tight group of 7 ANCIENT MURRELETs. Lots of PIGEON GUILLEMOTs around. A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE flew in, landed on the surface near us and gave great looks. Some EUROPEAN STARLINGs were around and a few KILLDEER flew in.

Our final stop of the day was at Kah Tai Lagoon. As we entered the park we had a perched COOPER'S HAWK. A NORTHERN HARRIER flew by across the lagoon. On the lagoon were good numbers of MALLARDs, some GREEN-WINGED TEAL, lots of RUDDY DUCKs, some GREATER SCAUP, HOODED MERGANSERs, a BELTED KINGFISHER, and PIED-BILLED GREBEs. In the pond there were AMERICAN COOTs, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

Along the way during the day we also saw RING-BILLED GULL, ROCK PIGEON, STELLER'S JAY, and HOUSE FINCH.

It was a great day with good folks, clear but cold weather and lot and lots of great looks at good birds! We wound up with 74 species for the day.

Good Birding,

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