Birding has been a bit slow around Edmonds over the last several
weeks. The two code 5 birds (Northern Mockingbird and Redhead)
continued through the end of January. The Redhead may well be gone
with the cold weather causing the still water to ice over. It was
present as recently as February 4th but I haven't checked in the last
three days. Our one code 4 bird (Western Meadowlark) is still seen
from time to time in the Edmonds Bowl and along the beaches. The
persistent sightings since late September lead one to the conclusion
that this is one overwintering bird. A good code 3 bird (Brewer's
Blackbird) for the Edmonds Bowl has persisted, moving between the
Senior Center grounds and the dumpsters of one of the waterfront
restaurants.

January brought all three loons to Edmonds waters but sightings were
sparse, as were numbers. Four to six Harlequin Ducks have been seen
intermittently from Marina Beach. We have not seen them back on the
marina breakwater. Shorebirds, other than the ever-present Killdeers,
have been conspicuously absent. That is consistent with reports on
Tweeters of low numbers this winter, perhaps due to the lack of
standing water in farm fields. At this point, a Dunlin or a Sanderling
would be a welcome sight. We still have not had a White-winged Scoter
or Long-tailed Duck sighting. Winter sea ducks include Greater Scaup,
Barrow's and Common Goldeneyes, Surf and Black Scoters, Red-breasted
Mergansers, and Buffleheads. Fresh water ducks included Gadwall,
Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, and
Lesser Scaup. On the alcid scene, the Pigeon Guillemots are the most
abundant and many are now in alternate plumage. Rhinoceros Auklets are
seen in low but regular numbers. I think Brad Waggoner is hogging the
Common Murres and Bonaparte's Gull in Kitsap County. Turn a few loose,
Brad. We're hurting over here. Gulls include Glaucous-winged, Olympic
hybrids, and Mews.

To relieve the local boredom, I did a soft big day (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
within the Edmonds city limits on February 4th. It was cold, birds
were keeping a low profile but I exceeded my expectations with 60
Edmonds species and another 8 on the Mount Lake Terrace portion of
Lake Ballinger. High numbers included 53 Brants, 97 Western Grebes,
and a raft of 11 Pacific Loons. Raptors were Cooper's and Red-tailed
Hawk and two Bald Eagles (one adult; one juvenile). I found Pacific
and Bewick's but no Marsh Wrens. There were three Varied Thrush to add
to the Robin population. I found all three warblers: Yellow-rumped,
Orange-crowned, and Townsend's. Among the expected Emberizidae finds
was one Lincoln's Sparrow. My big miss was the woodpeckers. I couldn't
even locate a Northern Flicker--all day long.

Good birding,

Carol Riddell
Edmonds