Photo: Northern Pintail by Mick Thompson
November 29, 2022
Brrr! Our morning at Blaine Marine Park began with temperatures in the mid-20s, but winds were calm and thousands of ducks huddled along the near shoreline: Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Common Goldeneye, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Mallard, and a lone Snow Goose. Further out were Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Loon, and Red-breasted Merganser, Dunlin, Black Turnstone, and a Long-tailed Duck stayed close to the jetties. At Semiahmoo, we spied Harlequin Duck, Red-throated Loon, and Black Oystercatcher. We warmed up during lunch at Wilma Bayes’ cabin, but then it began snowing and even we diehard birders headed home.
58 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Wilma, Graham, Barry, Phil, Mary, Merilee, Dianna, Ed, Rick, Bruce, Ken, Karen, Pam T. Ginger, David
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Snow Goose (1), Brant (350), Canada Goose (129), Trumpeter Swan (3), Gadwall (2), Eurasian Wigeon (1), American Wigeon (1250), Mallard (285), Northern Shoveler (11), Northern Pintail (3000), Green-winged Teal (5)5, Greater Scaup (165), Harlequin Duck (9), Surf Scoter (400), White-winged Scoter (120), Long-tailed Duck (1), Bufflehead (44), Common Goldeneye (21), Barrow’s Goldeneye (3), Hooded Merganser (8), Red-breasted Merganser (12), Ruddy Duck (6)
LOONS, GREBES: Red-throated Loon (1), Common Loon (5), Horned Grebe (2), Red-necked Grebe (1), Western Grebe (21)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Brandt’s Cormorant (1), Double-crested Cormorant (17), Pelagic Cormorant (26), Great Blue Heron (5)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (2), Cooper’s Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (1)
SHOREBIRDS: Black-bellied Plover (1), Killdeer (6), Black Oystercatcher (10), Greater Yellowlegs (1), Black Turnstone (54), Dunlin (800)
GULLS, TERNS: Short-billed Gull (1), Glaucous-winged Gull (55)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (3)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna’s Hummingbird (1)
KINGFISHERS: Belted Kingfisher (2)
WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (3)
CORVIDS: American Crow (8), Common Raven (3)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee {1)
KINGLETS: Golden-crowned Kinglet (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1)
THRUSHES: American Robin (4)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (4)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (2), Song Sparrow (1), White-crowned Sparrow (6), Golden-crowned Sparrow (9)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Sparrow (1)