I got behind in posting some of the interesting sightings in Edmonds so this will cover August through October. I?ll try to keep it brief. It is a snapshot of birds seen with no intent to be exhaustive.

August was not a terribly exciting month for shorebird migration in Edmonds. It was mostly Western and Least Sandpipers at the marsh. There was one Northern Pintail (code 3) seen in the marsh on August 25th. A Northern Harrier (code 3) was also reported there on August 26th. Red Phalarope (code 3) sightings on the waterfront started on August 16th with a flock of 30 birds and continued at least through September 7th with a sighting of 50 birds.

September started with a sighting of seven American White Pelicans (code 4) on the waterfront. Parasitic Jaeger (code 3) sightings began on September 5th and continued at least through October 6th. Most sightings were of a single bird and one report was of two jaegers. A Wandering Tattler (code 5) was spotted on the marina?s south breakwater on September 6th. That was the third confirmed sighting and the first since 1996. The following day, September 7th, was the first of a two-day stay by the Swallow-tailed Gull (code 5 and Edmonds species # 271) on the marina?s breakwaters before it moved back to Point Wells. A Solitary Sandpiper (code 5) was a flyover in a neighborhood near Lake Ballinger on September 8th. A Long-billed Dowitcher (code 3) hung around the marsh from September 10th to October 2nd. Another Northern Pintail (code 3) was in the marsh on September 25th. A Sabine?s Gull (code 4) was reported on the waterfront on September 29th. A Stilt Sandpiper (code 5) was in the marsh on September 30th. This species was last reported in Edmonds in 1995.

October 1st brought a flock of about 40 Black-bellied Plovers (code 4) on the waterfront. On that same date 16 Turkey Vultures (code 3) were seen heading south over Edmonds. Two Cassin?s Auklets (code 4) flew by the waterfront on October 2nd. Eight American White Pelicans (code 4) flew along the waterfront on October 15th. Also on October 15th a Common Loon (code 3) was swimming in the Underwater Park north of the ferry dock and remained in that area for at least a week.

Heermann?s Gull numbers have dwindled dramatically. California Gulls are giving way to Mew Gulls. All three scoters are along the waterfront, as are Harlequin Ducks, American Wigeons, and Buffleheads. I saw my first Red-breasted Merganser of fall on October 28th from the Water Street public access. Horned, Red-necked, and Westerns Grebes can be seen along the waterfront.

We are at 179 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