Hi Tweets



A group from Seattle Audubon took a trip to Whidbey Island today. The day
started out with good temperatures at the Mukilteo ferry terminal and clear
skies. While we were in line for the ferry we saw AMERICAN CROW, ROCK
PIGEON, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL and CASPIAN TERN. On the ferry we added PIGEON
GUILLEMOT, RHINOCEROS AUKLET and COMMON MURRE, OSPREY and some more gulls.
At the Clinton ferry terminal there were additional Pigeon Guillemots and
SURF SCOTERs, 3 BELTED KINGFISHERs and gulls (all Glaucous-winged and
GW-Western hybrids).



We made our first stop (still early and great temps) at the Deer Lake access
point - picked up CANADA GOOSE, AMERICAN ROBIN, HOODED MERGANSER, CEDAR
WAXWING, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, WESTERN TANAGER, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE,
and BARN SWALLOW.



On Rollinghill Rd. we saw or heard RED-BRESTED NUTHATCH, BROWN CREEPER,
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, SONG SPARROW, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD,
DARK-EYED JUNCO, SPOTTED TOWHEE, STELLER'S JAY and BUSHTIT.



We pushed on down to Joe Mackie Park in Maxwellton and were able to pull out
KILLDEER, CLIFF SWALLOW, EUROPEAN STARLING, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, COMMON MURRE
(about 25), RHINOCEROS AUKLET, BALD EAGLE, SURF SCOTER, two BLACK SCOTERs,
and several BONAPARTE'S GULLs including one nice breeding plumage bird. A
RED-BREASTED SUPSUCKER perched on a telephone pole. Up the road at
Maxwellton Outdoor Education Center it was quiet but we did hear AMERICAN
ROBIN, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and SONG SPARROW. The Ewing Rd. wetlands are
basically dry but there were BARN SWALLOWs, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.



At Deer Lagoon it was an extreme low tide and there were no shorebirds, but
there were TREE SWALLOWs. The temperature continued very comfortable (it was
only 65 at 9 AM). On the Useless Bay side there were AMERICAN GOLDFINCH,
COMMON LOON, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, RHINOCEROS AUKLET and at least 3 HARBOR
PORPOISE. At Double Bluff we saw our first HEERMANN'S GULLs.



On to Crockett Lake with lots and lots of mud exposed, but the only
shorebirds were about 600 DUNLIN. A nice male NORTHERN HARRIER swept past
and a RED-TAILED HAWK circled overhead. SAVANNAH SPARROWs were along the
road and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK was perched on a strange looking branch. The
temperature had climbed up to 71F, but now dropped back to 61F and fog was
coming in from the north. We stopped for lunch at Fort Casey (the first
picnic area where they have done a ton of clearing). There were two GREAT
HORNED OWLs perched on the north side of the area. On the central path we
had RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HOUSE WREN, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and , PACIFIC
WREN (heard). A probable juvenile BROWN CREEPER gave us a show.



Back down at the ferry terminal there were many, many PIGEON GUILLEMOTs on
the old dock as well as PELAGIC CORMORANTs. Lots of GLAUCOUS-WINGED and
hybrid gulls and HEERMANN'S gulls on the jetty and four CALIFORNIA GULLs.
Because of the fog in the north we headed back down south by way of Admirals
subdivision and picked up female MALLARDs and lots of young. A stop at Bush
Point gave us nice looks at many more PIGEON GUILLEMOTs, RHINOCEROS AUKLETs,
and two MARBLED MURRELETs. A BELTED KINGFISHER landed briefly. A bunch of
gulls were there with a few GLAUCOUS-WINGs and mostly hybrids. A stop at
South Whidbey State Park yielded WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, AMERICAN ROBIN,
DARK-EYED JUNCO, SONG SPARROW, SPOTTED TOWHEE.



At various other spots we added GREAT BLUE HERON, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE,
MOURNING DOVE, VAUX'S SWIFT, NORTHERN FLICKER, WARBLING VIREO, COMMON RAVEN,
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, SWAINSON'S THRUSH (lots mostly heard, one seen),
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, HOUSE SPARROW.



It was a great day with lots of nice views, good friends and great weather
and 66 species. Reality returned back on the Seattle side with temperatures
in the 80s.



Good Birding!



Brian H. Bell

Woodinville WA

Mail to bell asoc a t iso media dot com