Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup
Date: May 2 21:43:42 2016
From: Carol Riddell - cariddellwa at gmail.com


Hi Tweets,

Since my last Roundup on April 9th we have had another Edmonds code 5 species. First one, then a second Western Kingbird last week. There are now 5 or more sightings so it will become a code 4 for the city. It is a code 3 Snohomish County bird.

Shorebirding at the Edmonds marsh is in full swing. There have been lots of Western and Least Sandpipers stopping to forage and rest. There have been at least one Semipalmated Plover (code 3) today and one Semipalmated Sandpiper (code 3) yesterday and today. The Semipalmated Sandpiper is an unusual spring migrant for Western Washington, more typically seen during fall shorebird migration. Today brought a Short-billed Dowitcher (code 4) to the marsh. It was also the first day of Purple Martins (code 3) at the marsh. There was no sign of them at the Olympic Beach nest boxes so they may have come up from the Point Wells boxes to the south or just have been traveling through. One pair of Tree Swallows (code 3) continue to investigate the new nest boxes in the marsh. It does not yet look like the pair have selected one. If they nest here, it will be a first in the city for our modern birding era. A Chipping Sparrow (code 4) was near the marsh over the weekend.

On the warbler front, we have had April sightings of Black-throated Gray Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Yellow Warbler. Pacific-slope Flycatcher has been seen by a number of birders in Yost Park. There was a report of two early Western Tanagers (code 2) in Yost Park. Barred Owls continue to be seen in Pine Ridge Park. A pair of Red-breasted Sapsuckers have been excavating holes in a snag near the foot bridge in that park, where they have been very easy to watch. Our first Osprey (code 2) sighting was April 14th, with another yesterday. Just today we finally had a spring Turkey Vulture (code 3) fly over Edmonds.

The waterfront is undergoing seasonal changes. Most of the ducks have moved on to breeding grounds, but recently there have been as many as nine Harlequin Ducks around. Most Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants have left for their breeding grounds. Several Brandt?s Cormorants continue to be seen. Numbers of Red-necked and Horned Grebes are diminishing. There were several sightings of an Eared Grebe (code 4) recently at Marina Beach. It is an infrequently seen bird in the exposed waters of Edmonds but an easier identification when in alternate plumage. Over the weekend a Lesser Yellowlegs (code 4) and three Long-tailed Ducks (code 3) were spotted on the waterfront. A number of Pacific Loons (code 2) in stunning alternate plumage can still be seen from Sunset Avenue. In the last few days there were three Common Loons (code 3) along the waterfront from Marina Beach to Sunset Avenue. Recently there have been more Bonaparte?s Gull, Common Murres, Marbled Murrelets, and Rhinoceros Auklets to be seen.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds