Hi, Tweets
Well, I have daffodils blooming, varied thrushes still here, plus two local reports of turkey vultures so I guess spring is on the way. It's been a milder than usual winter so who knows what I'll find. A spattering of interesting, mostly unsurprising reports on e-bird. Turkey vultures at the sites they've been seen at early in the season are mostly not far from bodies of water, large and small. And, of course, it's warmer there which I'm sure they prefer. They are seldom reported early in the mountains.
How do I decide which e-bird sightings to use? It's sort of a toss-up, I guess: 1) if I know/know of the person reporting, 2) if it's a CBC, a group trip or several together reporting the same statistics, 3) an interesting or unusual location. Not too scientific but not too far off. Personal reports are best because people often describe the birds, weather, what other species they are flying with, etc. But, thanks for whatever you can send; it's appreciated.
DECEMBER 2024 catch-up)
14 -- One flew over College Place during the Walla Walla CBC (photographed).
15 -- Possibly the same turkey vulture seen again at College Place flying to a roost at 1600; one above Seholm shopping center near I-5 ( there were no descriptions but it is near Bellingham).
30 -- Two turkey vultures seen on Puget Island, Wahkiakum County, on the CBC; perhaps the third year in a row they've been seen at this time/site.
JANUARY
18 -- A kettle of two south of Port Angeles, circling slowly to the west (photograph).
22 -- One large black vulture flying over the Sequim Costco parking lot flapping a lot in the cold air.
25 -- One flying over Tholme Road, Snohomist County just after noon (photograph).
FEBRUARY
14 -- Four large dark birds with red heads flying in a circular pattern over Jefferson Beach Estates, Kitsap County - Valentine's present!
27 -- A lone turkey vulture heading north in Mason County east of the Canal, taking advantage of a mild northern breeze; five seen circling with ravens at Theler Wetlands, Mason County.
28 -- One soaring over Hwy 525 near Greenbank, Island County; two over Port Wilson, Jefferson County, weather sunny with fog; one soaring over uptown Port Townsend.
MARCH
01 -- Three at "Nature Hideout" Kitsap County ??; two seen over West Skokomish Valley Road, Mason County; one over Meadowbrook Farm, King County; a kettle of six over Scatter Creek, Thurston County.
02 -- One turkey vulture over Woodcock Woods, Clallam County; one soaring over Bell Creek, Clallam County (photographed); three over Sequim Bay Lodge, Clallam County; one seen flying overhead from Coupeville, Island County.
04 -- Seven over Lake Farm Road pond (no description); two over Fort Worden State Park, Jefferson County.
Thanks for the early reports. There should be a big influx of turkey vultures during March, so keep looking up . . . and thanks again.
Diann MacRae
Olympic Vulture Study
22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E.
Bothell, WA 98021
tvulture at gmx.com