Photo: Harlequin Duck by Philip Dickinson
November 7, 2023
Our day began at March Point with sightings of Surf Scoter, Lesser Scaup, Red-necked Grebe, Dunlin, Horned Grebe and Common Loon. At Lake Erie and Campbell Lake, new species included Pine Siskin, Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglet, Common Merganser, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Downy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Fox Sparrow and Virginia Rail. Bufflehead and Dark-eyed Juncos were numerous. At Rosario Beach, strong winds created spectacular surf but challenged our birding skills. Nevertheless, highlights were three cormorant species, Common Murre, Western Grebe, Black Oystercatcher, Hermit Thrush and ten Harlequin Duck. Bowman Bay offered great looks at Pacific Wren and many Short-billed Gull. At Deception Pass after lunch, the sea swells occasionally revealed White-winged Scoter, Red-throated, Pacific and Common Loon, Pigeon Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet and Red-breasted Merganser. At Cornet Bay, we added Bonaparte’s Gull, Bewick’s Wren, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Hooded Merganser and American Wigeon. On the way home, we passed a flock of several thousand Snow Geese along Highway 20.
71 Species (Approx. Qty)
Attendees: Phil, Val, Merilee, Judy Lo., Dianne, Tari, Pat, Marcia, Lisa, Barry, Doug C., Bruce, Karen, Frank, Teri, Reg, Maureen T., Pam P., John E., Wilma
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Snow Goose (7000), Canada Goose (80), Trumpeter Swan (25), Northern Shoveler (2), American Wigeon (6), Mallard (1), Ring-necked Duck (17), Lesser Scaup (86), Harlequin Duck (10), Surf Scoter (100), White-winged Scoter (1), Bufflehead (89), Hooded Merganser (12), Common Merganser (3), Ruddy Duck (2)
LOONS, GREBES: Red-throated Loon (1), Pacific Loon (1), Common Loon (5), Horned Grebe (3), Red-necked Grebe (1), Western Grebe (1)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Brandt’s Cormorant (1), Pelagic Cormorant (30), Double-crested Cormorant (55), Great Blue Heron (15)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (9), Northern Harrier (2), Red-tailed Hawk (3)
RAILS, CRANES: Virginia Rail (2), American Coot (6)
SHOREBIRDS: Black Oystercatcher (1), Dunlin (500)
GULLS: Bonaparte’s Gull (1), Ring-billed Gull (1), Glaucous-winged Gull (40)
ALCIDS, JAEGERS: Common Murre (1), Pigeon Guillemot (3), Ancient Murrelet (2)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Eurasian Collared-Dove (8), Mourning Dove (6)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna's Hummingbird (1)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (5)
WOODPECKERS: Downy Woodpecker (2), Northern Flicker (5)
CORVIDS: American Crow (22), Common Raven (1)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (6), Chestnut-backed Chickadee (8)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), Brown Creeper (7)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (2), Pacific Wren (4), Marsh Wren (1)
KINGLETS: Golden-crowned Kinglet (10), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (10)
THRUSHES: Hermit Thrush (2), American Robin (4)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (42)
WARBLERS, CHAT: Orange-crowned Warbler (1)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (6), Fox Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (5), White-crowned Sparrow (1), Golden-crowned Sparrow (1), Dark-eyed Junco (25)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Brewer’s Blackbird (560)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (4), Pine Siskin (100), House Sparrow (2)