We have had some good sightings in Edmonds since I last posted a roundup on April 7th. Our only code 5 sighting was a Sage Thrasher (5-1-17) that spent two days in a yard near the waterfront. Code 4 sighting include Black Oystercatcher (4-25-17) at the waterfront, Western Kingbird (4-23-17) near the marsh, Nashville Warbler (4-23-17) at the Willow Creek Hatchery, and Bank Swallow (5-10-17) in the marina. Code 3 sightings, in taxonomic order, are: Greater White-fronted Goose (4-29-17), Cackling Goose (4-28-17), Mourning Dove (5-21-17), Semipalmated Plover (5-4-17), Common Tern (5-18-17), Purple Martin (5-6-17), Tree Swallow (3-14-17), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (5-6-17), American Pipit (4-29-17), Evening Grosbeak (5-21-17), Yellow-headed Blackbird (5-4-17), and Bullock?s Oriole (5-20-17).

On our current checklist, Western Kingbird is listed as a code 5. This most recent sighting is our fifth, so that species becomes a code 4. Shorebird migration this spring was one of the worst that we can remember. Other than Semipalmated Plovers appearing in the marsh on one day, it was mostly Least and Western Sandpipers, with very low numbers. Passerine migration has been a little more interesting. A week ago we had a fallout of Wilson?s Warblers. They seemed to be everywhere and in good numbers. That has tapered off now. Several days ago, Common Terns appeared in the Underwater Park north of the ferry dock. I counted 38 when I saw them. No one recalls a spring fallout like this. They were gone the next day, on their way north.

We have documented the usual spring migrants, including Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Hammond?s Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, among others. Purple Martins are being seen regularly around the marsh and I noted two pairs checking out the nest boxes on the marine pilings just south of the ferry dock. Perhaps this is the year we will see some nesting activity there. A pair of Tree Swallows appear to be settling into one of the nest boxes we installed in the marsh last year. It is best seen from the middle viewing platform near the tennis courts. We are hoping for a second year of successful nesting.

We are at 149 species for the year. Species on our collective list are noted in the bird information display box at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station at the base of the public pier. If you would like a copy of the current Edmonds checklist, please request it at checklistedmonds at gmail.com <mailto:checklistedmonds at gmail.com>.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA

Abundance codes: (1) Common, (2) Uncommon, (3) Harder to find, usually seen annually, (4) Rare, 5+ records, (5) Fewer than 5 records