Photo: Short-eared Owl by Philip Dickinson
October 24, 2023
We began our day at the Hansen Creek and Northern State Recreation Area in Sedro-Woolley. The visiting Red-shouldered Hawk was a no-show, but we saw Short-eared Owl, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk. There also were Marsh Wren, Virginia Rail, Dark-eyed Junco and Brown Creeper. Johnson-DeBay Slough yielded American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser and Pine Siskin. Clear Lake had numerous Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead and Pied-billed Grebe, plus Western Grebe and Hairy Woodpecker. We had great looks at Belted Kingfisher and Downy Woodpecker at Mud Lake. Nearby, we added Anna’s Hummingbird and two flyover Wilson’s Snipe. Just before rain began, we watched an American Kestrel diving on a Red-tailed Hawk at Beaver Lake. At a Clear Lake shelter during lunch, we noticed a Trumpeter Swan. Heading home, we passed a large blackbird flock along Thilberg Rd.
48 Species (Approx. Qty)
Attendees: Phil, Rex, Judy Lo., Diane, Denny, Pat, Marcia, John H. Lisa, Mary, Graham, Wilma, Doug II, Tari, Bruce, Maureen T., Pam T.
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Canada Goose (5), Trumpeter Swan (1), American Wigeon (45), Mallard (56), Green-winged Teal (16), Ring-necked Duck (72), Bufflehead (19), Hooded Merganser (2)
LOONS, GREBES: Pied-billed Grebe (11), Western Grebe (1)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (9), Great Blue Heron (1)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (4), Northern Harrier (2), Cooper’s Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (7), American Kestrel (2)
RAILS, CRANES: Virginia Rail (1), American Coot (2)
SHOREBIRDS: Wilson’s Snipe (2)
GULLS: Glaucous-winged Gull (1)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (200), Mourning Dove (4)
OWLS: Short-eared Owl (1)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna's Hummingbird (3)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (3)
WOODPECKERS: Downy Woodpecker (1), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (5)
CORVIDS: Steller's Jay (9), American Crow (29), Common Raven (5)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (5), Chestnut-backed Chickadee (1)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Brown Creeper (2)
WRENS: Pacific Wren (1), Marsh Wren (5)
THRUSHES: American Robin (2)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (400)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (2), Song Sparrow (6), Golden-crowned Sparrow (2), Dark-eyed Junco (16)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (164), Brewer's Blackbird (400), Brown-headed Cowbird (2)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: Pine Siskin (35)