Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesdays SAS Vashon field trip
Date: Sat Mar 2 18:51:17 PST 2019
From: Ed Swan - Edswan2 at comcast.net

Hi all, just getting a chance to report on a Seattle Audubon Society field
trip I led on Wednesday around Vashon Island, going to my usual run of
places. We had a good half day with 58 species and we could have racked up
more if I had really tried to bump the numbers up because I'm not counting
several birds like both chickadees and kinglets.



Highlights:

A Rhinocerous Auklet swam in front of the ferry about half way across from
Fauntleroy.



Brandt's Cormorants are in breeding plumage and easy to see fairly close up
at the north end dock. The bright blue on the face and the white plumes
were readily seen. All three cormorant species perch together here for
comparison. We also had a Spotted Sandpiper on the shore on the north side
of the dock and Harlequins popping up and down in front of the new Wild
Mermaid restaurant.



We missed the Eurasian Collared-Doves and White-throated Sparrow by
Pandora's in town but did get some nice looks at a flock of Golden-crowned
Sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers.



Fisher Pond was pretty quiet with no Wood Ducks and partially frozen over.
But we got a brief glimpse of a Hermit Thrush and some Ring-necked Ducks
were present. We did get to hear Red-winged Blackbirds beginning to call on
territory.



A kestrel at the Matsuda Preserve stooped on a flicker and unsuccessfully
chased it.



Tramp Harbor had a variety of the usual suspects including a number of Eared
Grebes.



Monument Road was productive with a pair of bright Red-breasted Sapsuckers
foraging and drumming close to the road. A Virginia Rail called and was
briefly visible in the cattails. At least six Wilson's Snipe were on the
east side of the road in the wet field.



Outer Quartermaster Harbor had at least half a dozen Red-throated Loons seen
from the pulloff close to Shawnee. An otter ran along the beach toward us
and then swam visible under the very clear water.



The landing strip at Wax Orchards had a light morph juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
and another kestrel.



We heard Pine Siskins at almost every stop. A large group flitted around
the tree tops at the Meadowlake viewpoint.



Full list below. We'll be going again on Wednesday, March 27.



Ed



Ed Swan

Nature writer and guide

edswan2 at comcast.net <mailto:edswan2 at comcast.net>

206.949.3545

www.theswancompany.com <http://www.theswancompany.com>



Vashon Field Trip List



Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Greater Scaup

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Barrow's Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-throated Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-throated Grebe

Eared Grebe

Brandt's Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Red-tailed Hawk

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

Wilson's Snipe

Mew Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Rhinocerous Auklet

Rock Pigeon

Anna's Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

American Kestrel

Steller's Jay

American Crow

Common Raven

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

Bewick's Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Otter

Harbor Seal



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