Photo: Northern Shoveler by Philip Dickinson
January 9, 2024
The forecast was for a very wet, very windy day, but we had only a ten-minute shower and moderate breeze with only a couple of brief gusts. Virginia Clark must still be talking with Mother Nature. At Lake Tye and Lord’s Lake in Monroe, our sightings included Trumpeter Swan, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Goldeneye, Snow Goose and American Wigeon. The breeze did minimize songbird activity in the Crescent Lake area, but we found large flocks of Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer’s Blackbird and Cackling Goose, along with Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron and Hooded Merganser. The Snoqualmie River Trail at Stillwater produced Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall and Northern Shoveler, among others. We finished the day at Sikes Lake padding our count of several species and adding Common Merganser.
48 Species (Approx. Qty)
Attendees: Phil, Rex, Dianne, Denny, Graham, Wilma, Rick, Pam T., Maureen Z., Ken, Teri, Jane, Gary, Karen, Judy B., Robin
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Snow Goose (27), Cackling Goose (1150), Canada Goose (195), Trumpeter Swan (320), Northern Shoveler (10), Gadwall (3), American Wigeon (1000), Mallard (315), Northern Pintail (135), Green-winged Teal (22), Ring-necked Duck (4), Greater Scaup (2), Lesser Scaup (6), Bufflehead (2), Common Goldeneye (1), Hooded Merganser (7), Common Merganser (3)
LOONS, GREBES: Pied-billed Grebe (6)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (8), Great Blue Heron (5)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (11), Northern Harrier (2), Cooper’s Hawk (2), Red-tailed Hawk (7)
RAILS, CRANES: American Coot (240)
GULLS: Short-billed Gull (150), Ring-billed Gull (3), Glaucous-winged Gull (230)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (6), Eurasian Collared-Dove (6), Mourning Dove (4)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (3)
WOODPECKERS: Downy Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (5)
CORVIDS: Steller's Jay (3), American Crow (210), Common Raven (5)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (1)
THRUSHES: American Robin (3)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (570)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (3), Fox Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (6), White-crowned Sparrow (3), Dark-eyed Junco (24)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (56), Brewer's Blackbird (500)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Sparrow (24)