Photo: Bald Eagle by Philip Dickinson
January 30, 2024
A dry day and excellent species count for January. Led by Wilma Bayes, we began at Crockett Lake with Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Gadwall, Marbled Murrelet, Pacific and Common Loon, and a very photogenic Bald Eagle. At the Keystone Ferry, we found numerous Pigeon Guillemot and Pelagic Cormorant, plus Common Murre, Black Oystercatcher and Harlequin Duck. The woods at Fort Casey were quiet, but we did see Golden-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee and Red-tailed Hawk. The Holmes Harbor waters had plenty of birds, including Western Grebe, Surf Scoter and Barrow’s Goldeneye. Robinson Beach also was productive with more than three dozen Pacific Loon, several Horned Grebe, Western Gull, Red-breasted Sapsucker and Pileated Woodpecker. Highlights at Deer Lagoon were thousands of Dunlin, hundreds of Bufflehead, a few Black-bellied plover, one Long-tailed Duck, Pine Siskin and Red-breasted Nuthatch. Ewing Marsh was our final stop, where we added Wilson’s Snipe, numerous Killdeer, Virginia Rail and an American Kestrel pair.
75 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Wilma, Graham, Phil, Dianne, Pat, Marcia, John H., Ken, Gary, Frank, Rex, Bruce, Reg, Karen, Robin, Denny, Doug C. Ray, Val, Carlos, Judy Lo., Denny, Hans, Mike C.
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Canada Goose (6), Northern Shoveler (4), Gadwall (27), Mallard (49), Northern Pintail (37), Green-winged Teal (9), Ring-necked Duck (2), Greater Scaup (9), Lesser Scaup (9), Harlequin Duck (4), Surf Scoter (20), Long-tailed Duck (1), Bufflehead (400), Common Goldeneye (9), Barrow’s Goldeneye (12), Hooded Merganser (7), Red-breasted Merganser (2), Ruddy Duck (7)
LOON, GREBES: Pacific Loon (45), Common Loon (4), Horned Grebe (15), Red-necked Grebe (2), Western Grebe (33)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Brandt’s Cormorant (2), Pelagic Cormorant (50), Double-crested Cormorant (3), Great Blue Heron (7)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (5), Northern Harrier (2), Red-tailed Hawk (4), American Kestrel (2)
RAILS, CRANES: Virginia Rail (2)
SHOREBIRDS: Black-bellied Plover (4), Killdeer (16), Black Oystercatcher (3), Greater Yellowlegs (1), Dunlin (3000), Wilson’s Snipe (4)
GULLS, TERNS: Short-billed Gull (6), Western Gull (1), Glaucous-winged Gull (72)
ALCIDS, JAEGERS: Common Murre (8), Pigeon Guillemot (47), Marbled Murrelet (2), Rhinoceros Auklet (3)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (9)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna’s Hummingbird (2)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (1)
WOODPECKERS: Red-breasted Sapsucker (1), Northern Flicker (5), Pileated Woodpecker (1)
CORVIDS: American Crow (16)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (3), Chestnut-backed Chickadee (1)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (2), Pacific Wren (1), Marsh Wren (1)
KINGLETS: Golden-crowned Kinglet (6), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4)
THRUSHES: American Robin (8)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (1)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (1), Fox Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (3), White-crowned Sparrow (8), Golden-crowned Sparrow (3), Dark-eyed Junco (14)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (30)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (20), Pine Siskin (50), House Sparrow (19)
Looking for more local places to go birding?
Check out our newly revised, 3rd edition of Birding in Snohomish County & Camano Island, a field guide to the best birding locations in Snohomish County and Camano Island, Washington.
A full-color, updated and expanded 3rd edition of Philip Zalesky’s original book, Birding in Snohomish County and Camano Island, 3rd Edition is a celebration of the variety and bountiful birding locations in the area. With habitats ranging from marine to alpine, the diversity of species that can be found here are a birder’s dream.
This new edition covers more than 80 locations, noting general information about the sites and which birds are common at each. Philip Zalesky’s original site descriptions have been revised and updated, including new observations, recent sightings, and historical and natural history information. Our local birders have added their own interesting anecdotes, including the many ways things have changed since the 2nd edition was published in 2001. Local bird photographers have contributed over 100 full-color photographs showing the splendor of our local birds and the wondrous beauty of the birding habitats found in our area. A checklist includes all 355 species of birds ever sighted in Snohomish County and Camano Island.
We hope this book will guide you to new areas you haven’t explored yet, or give you an idea of where to start if you’re visiting Western Washington.
All proceeds will help fund local conservation efforts in Snohomish County and Camano Island.