Photo: Lincoln’s Sparrow by Mick Thompson
November 1, 2022
On a cool but beautiful day, we started our birding outside Burlington, traveled country roads to Clear Lake and visited the Samish Flats. Several of us also stopped at Fir Island Hayton Reserve on the way home. Bird-of-the-day was an immature Northern Shrike at DeBay Slough. We also saw our first Trumpeter Swans of the season, White-throated Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Rough-legged Hawk and Western Grebe. At Hayton, we witnessed an amazing flyover of 75,000 Snow Geese (estimate), plus Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Wigeon and many Dunlin. However, nothing made us happier than a surprise visit by Virginia Clark at the East 90.
67 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Phil, Rex, Dianna, Doug, Val, Denny, Judy Lo. Bruce, Reg, Ken, Frank, Melinda, Karen, Pam T., Jane, Maureen, Rick, Pam P., John E, Amy, Wilma, Virginia, Junelle, Nancy
Northern Shrike by Philip Dickinson.
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Snow Goose (75,715), Cackling Goose (415), Canada Goose (2), Trumpeter Swan (27), Gadwall (2), Eurasian Wigeon (1), American Wigeon (500), Mallard (600), Northern Pintail (300), Green-winged Teal (1000), Ring-necked Duck (12), Lesser Scaup (14), Bufflehead (2), Hooded Merganser (1), Ruddy Duck (5)
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS: Ring-necked Pheasant (1)
LOONS, GREBES: Pied-billed Grebe (6), Western Grebe (1)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (3), Great Blue Heron (5)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (13), Northern Harrier (8), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (16), Rough-legged Hawk (1), American Kestrel (3), Peregrine Falcon (1)
SHOREBIRDS: Killdeer (3), Greater Yellowlegs (1), Least Sandpiper (30), Dunlin (4,000), Long-billed Dowitcher (30)
GULLS, TERNS: Ring-billed Gull (100), Glaucous-winged Gull (8)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Eurasian Collared-Dove (8), Mourning Dove (7)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna’s Hummingbird (2)
KINGFISHERS: Belted Kingfisher (1)
WOODPECKERS: Red-breasted Sapsucker (2), Downy Woodpecker (2), Hairy Woodpecker (2), Northern Flicker (5)
SHRIKES, VIREOS: Northern Shrike (1)
CORVIDS: Steller’s Jay (11), American Crow (36, Common Raven (6)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee {13)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (4)
KINGLETS: Golden-crowned Kinglet (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4)
THRUSHES: American Robin (5)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (3000)
WAXWINGS, PIPITS: American Pipit (7)
WARBLERS, CHATS: Yellow-rumped Warbler (8)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (6), Fox Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (11), Lincoln’s Sparrow (1) White-throated Sparrow (1), White-crowned Sparrow (7), Golden-crowned Sparrow (10), Dark-eye Junco (15)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (106), Brewer’s Blackbird (200)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: Purple Finch (1), House Finch (6), American Goldfinch (4), House Sparrow (1)