Photo: Common Loon by Philip Dickinson
August 23, 2022
Phil Dickinson led our Tuesday birders north to Whatcom County to explore Blaine, Semiahmoo, Birch Bay and Lake Terrell. The weather was gorgeous, but warm temperatures apparently have discouraged much early migration movement. We did see thousands of Surf Scoters with some scattered White-winged Scoters, a number of Common Loons and Harlequin Ducks, Black Oystercatcher, Horned Grebe and Red-necked Grebes. Lake Terrell produced Willow Flycatcher, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow Warbler and Wilson’s Warbler.
49 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Phil, Graham, Mike, Pam P., John E., Jeff, Victor, Rick, Bruce, Ken, Teri, Melinda, Bev, Wilma, Val, Merilee, Denny, Dianna, Joann, Jean
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Canada Geese (500), Mallard (50), Northern Pintail (5), Harlequin Duck (15), Surf Scoter (2000), White-winged Scoter (20), Common Merganser (1)
LOONS, GREBES: Common Loon (20), Horned Grebe (3), Red-necked Grebe (6)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (400), Pelagic Cormorant (15), Great Blue Heron (25)
VULTURE: Turkey Vulture (6)
RAPTORS: Osprey (1)
SHOREBIRDS: Killdeer (4), Black Oystercatcher (3), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Greater Yellowlegs (1), Western Sandpiper (21)
GULLS, TERNS: Short-billed Gull (8), Ring-billed Gull (15), California Gull (2), Glaucous-winged Gull (300), Caspian Tern (4)
ALCIDS, JAEGERS: Pigeon Guillemot (3), Marbled Murrelet (1)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Mourning Dove (1)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna’s Hummingbird (1)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (1)
WOODPECKERS: Pileated Woodpecker (1)
FLYCATCHERS: Western Wood-Pewee (1), Willow Flycatcher (2)
CORVIDS: Steller’s Jay (1), American Crow (12), Common Raven (2)
LARKS, SWALLOWS: Barn Swallow (25)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (3), Chestnut-backed Chickadee (2)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (2)
THRUSHES: American Robin (3)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (6)
WAXWINGS, PIPITS: Cedar Waxwing (2)
WARBLERS, CHATS: Yellow Warbler (1), Wilson’s Warbler (1)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (2), White-crowned Sparrow (2), Dark-eyed Junco (1)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (8), American Goldfinch (2), House Sparrow (2)