Trip Report: Fir Island

Photo: Great Horned Owl by Mick Thompson

July 26, 2022

A hot day dictated a short itinerary. However, there was considerable activity at Wylie Slough, highlighted by a photogenic Great Horned Owl and numerous Yellow Warblers. Fir Island Reserve (Hayton) produced Least and Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Greater Yellowlegs, an out-of-season Tundra Swan and a pair of Peregrine Falcons. After lunch we stopped to visit Jim Beneteau. It was great to see him after his extended absence from our trips, as well as his Black-headed Grosbeaks, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Western Wood-Pewee.

60 species (approx. qty.)

Attendees: Phil, Rex, Judy Lo., Dianna, Graham, Pam P., Amy, Bruce, Maureen, Rick, Reg, Karen

CHECKLIST:

WATERFOWL: Canada Goose (80), Tundra Swan (1), Wood Duck (4), Gadwall (10), Mallard (2)

PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Great Blue Heron (4)

RAPTORS: Osprey (2), Bald Eagle (8), Red-tailed Hawk (3), American Kestrel (1), Peregrine Falcon (2)

SHOREBIRDS: Semipalmated Plover (5), Killdeer (24), Greater Yellowlegs (3), Least Sandpiper (25), Western Sandpiper (50), Long-billed Dowitcher (12)

GULLS, TERNS: Glaucous-winged Gull (1000)

DOVES, PIGEONS: Band-tailed Pigeon (6), Eurasian Collared-Dove (2), Mourning Dove (1)

HUMMINGBIRDS: Rufous Hummingbird (1)

KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (1)

WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (4), Pileated Woodpecker (3)

FLYCATCHERS: Western Wood-Pewee (1), Willow Flycatcher (3)

SHRIKES, VIREOS: Warbling Vireo (2)

CORVIDS: American Crow (2)

LARKS, SWALLOWS: Tree Swallow (23), Violet-green Swallow (3), Cliff Swallow (30), Barn Swallow (36)

CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (12)

NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), Brown Creeper (1)

WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (2), Marsh Wren (4)

THRUSHES: Swainson’s Thrush (6), American Robin (19)

MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (250)

WAXWINGS, PIPITS: Cedar Waxwing (8)

WARBLERS, CHATS: Common Yellowthroat (2), Yellow Warbler (8)

LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (1), Savannah Sparrow (6), Song Sparrow (14), White-crowned Sparrow (6), Dark-eyed Junco (2)

TANAGERS, GROSBEAKS: Black-headed Grosbeak (4)

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (30), Brewer’s Blackbird (18), Brown-headed Cowbird (10)

FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: Evening Grosbeak (1), Purple Finch (2), House Finch (5), Pine Siskin (2), American Goldfinch (7), House Sparrow (6)