Subject: [Tweeters] Pileated and Long Tailed Duck Follow Up
Date: Feb 11 21:34:22 2012
From: Blair Bernson - blair at washingtonadvisorygroup.com


Thanks to all who sent leads and guidance in
response to my request for recommendations on
spots to photograph Pileated Woodpeckers and Long
Tailed Ducks. This morning the choice was whether
to try for the Bunting at Damon Point or to follow
up on the leads received. Looking at the weather
and being honest about post surgery energy levels,
I opted for the latter and hope I will have
another shot at the McKay's later.

The day started with an early visit to the Wallace
Swamp Creek Park in Kenmore, thanks to a lead from
Linda Phillips. She provided excellent and
specific directions which took me to the picnic
table area just after crossing the creek on the
main trail. As soon as I got there, a pair of
Northern Flickers were seen drilling high up in a
nearby tree. This was quickly followed first by a
Downy Woodpecker that flew by and then by a loud
pecking sound perhaps 100 feet away in the forest
- sure sounded like a Pileated and a few moment of
plunging through the brush gave some up close and
personal shots of this beauty low on a snag that
it had obviously worked over often. The only
trouble was that it was very low on the trunk and
so it was hard to get a picture without other
growth in the way. Perseverance paid off and a
fine photo was finally mine. As I was walking
back to the picnic area, a Hairy Woodpecker flew
into a tree about 30 feet away...the fourth
woodpecker of the morning all within no more than
15 minutes. The area in general was very birdy
even if the light was not great: chickadees, song
and fox sparrows, both kinglets, Bewicks Wren,
Hutton's Vireo, many pine siskins, rb nuthatch,
robins, bushtits, and a very close flyby from a
juvenile Bald Eagle. Just as I was about to leave
a Red Breasted Sapsucker flew into another tree -
giving me all 5 of the woodpeckers that Linda had
touted earlier. Really a great spot with easy
access for all.

Then it was off to try for Long Tailed Duck. The
Semiahmoo spit was the place most often
recommended by tweeterdom. I have been three
often and in fact it is where I last saw the duck,
but not a good view. Given that history and the
distance, I instead headed off to the Fox Island
Bridge, recommended by Guy McWethey. I had never
been to Fox Island so figured it would be
worthwhile regardless. There is no place to stop
on the two lane bridge but there is a pullout at
the west end, which I used. I then walked the
sidewalk on the south side of bridge back to the
start at the east and came back all the way across
and then repeated. Alas no Long Tailed Ducks but
still a nice area. Both goldeneyes, surf and
white winged scoters, hooded and common mergansers
(no red breasted which surprised me), wigeon,
harlequin ducks, buffleheads, pigeon guillemots,
double crested cormorants, red necked and horned
grebes and Pacific loons...but I repeat - NO long
tailed ducks.

Well there is always next week... maybe there will
be one off Damon Point right after the McKay's
Bunting.
Thanks to Linda and Guy and everyone else with
their recommendations.