Hi Tweets



A group from Eastside Audubon took a trip over to the Sequim area today. The
day started out somewhat broken but calm on the ferry ride over to Kingston.
At the Edmonds terminal we saw PIGEON GUILLEMOT, SURF SCOTER, RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE, PELAGIC CORMORANT, and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. On the
ferry ride we saw a single CALIFORNIA GULL, a PACIFIC LOON, a RED-NECKED
GREBE and a couple of BRANDT'S CORMORANTs. At the Kingston terminal there
were a ton of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTs, Pigeon Guillemots, some Surf
Scoters, and more G-W Gulls.



Our first stop was at Port Gamble with DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, SURF
SCOTER, HORNED GREBE, LONG-TAILED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and a
very dark MERLIN. A brief misty drizzle moved in. Down the road at Salsbury
Point Co. Park a nice pair of BARROW'S GOLDENEYE were close to shore, with a
couple of Pigeon Guillemots, a Horned Grebe, and two COMMON MERGANSERs
flyby.



We drove out from under the drizzle and down to Gardner Beach and picked up
MALLARD, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER, SURF
SCOTER. We then went up to Knapp Road, drove down to the end of the county
portion and from a high spot scanned the large pond west of Knapp. At 10:15
we got nice scope views of the EMPEROR GOOSE (highlight of the day) in with
the CANADA GOOSE flock. A couple of EURASIAN COLLARED DOVEs flew in, and a
DARK-EYED JUNCO gave a weird call.



We drove down to Diamond Point but the wind was so strong over the channel
that no birds were in sight, other than a single distant RHINOCEROS AUKLET.
A couple of BALD EAGLEs were perched on a tree on Protection Island. A
RED-TAILED HAWK was perched on the wires. The pond had MALLARD, NORTHERN
SHOVELER, BUFFLEHEAD, AMERICAN WIGEON, HOODED MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK, a
female RING-NECKED DUCK and a male LESSER SCAUP.



We stopped at John Wayne Marina for an early lunch as it was dry (could see
light rain over the mountains) and calm. Lots of AMERICAN WIGEON,
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLs, a few MEW GULLs, some Pigeon Guillemots on the bay,
and waaay out a single MARBLED MURRELET. We finished lunch in the cars as
the wind came up, and even at 48 our hands quickly got chilled. The wind
continued for the rest of the day. At the north end of the marina was a
large flock of American Wigeon that included two EURASIAN WIGEON and one
American/Eurasian hybrid (somewhat grey sides with pinkish to the front, a
reddish head with a green eye streak). A BALD EAGLE was perched in a tree
above the lot when we arrived. Out on the bay were more Surf Scoters, Pigeon
Guillemots, Red-breasted Mergansers.



We made a quick trip out to the Dungeness Audubon Center and Railroad Bridge
Park. The feeders were very active with BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEEs, DARK-EYED JUNCOs, SPOTTED TOWHEE, SONG, FOX, GOLDEN-CROWNED
SPARROWs, and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. A DOWNY WOODPECKER was in a tree and a
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET sang.



We moved on to Kitchen Dick Rd, saw a hovering AMERICAN KESTREL, and having
to park to the north of the ponds because of the new railings by the ponds.
We walked back on the wide shoulder and scanned both ponds. MALLARDs,
AMERICAN WIGEON (one EURASIAN), NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, a
GREATER SCAUP, some RING-NECKED DUCK, a BELTED KINGFISHER, RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRD and a single RUBY-CROWED KINGLET.



As we cruised along the bluff above the Dungeness Spit area there was a very
large group of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTs. At Cline Spit, the assortment of
"Olympic Gulls" had a couple of nice WESTERN GULLs. In the distance we could
make out BRANT. At Dungeness Landing County Park a small "island" had DUNLIN
and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.



We stopped along the Sequim/Three Crabs Rd. and looked for the HARRIS'
SPARROW. Denny came out and said we were welcome to walk around to look for
the bird. Lots of DARK-EYED JUNCOs, GOLDEN-CROWNED and WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROWs, some HOUSE SPARROWs, SPOTTED TOWHEE, and brief, unsatisfactory but
adequate views of the HARRIS'S. At the old Three Crabs site were many
"Olympic Gulls" and a few MEW. On Three Crabs Rd. we dipped on the Harris'
at 770, with lots of GOLDEN-CROWNED, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWs.



Elsewhere during the day we saw: SWANS (too distant to i.d.), RED-THROATED
LOON, COMMON LOON, GREAT BLUE HERON, AMERICAN COOT, KILLDEER, ROCK PIGEON,
AMERICAN ROBIN, EUROPEAN STARLING, and HOUSE FINCH.



All in all, a very nice day with 73 species, decent weather, and good
people.



Good Birding!



Brian H. Bell

Woodinville WA

Mail to bell asoc at iso media dot calm