Photo: Black Oystercatcher by Kenneth Trease
October 11, 2022
There was a wide range of waterbirds along the shores of Whidbey Island on a beautiful, mostly smoke-free day, as our group explored from Rosario Head south to Crockett Lake. Bird-of-the day was Black Oystercatcher – 48 of them to be exact. However, sightings also included Common Murre, Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin Duck, Canvasback, Eared Grebe and three loon species. We also heard a couple of Red Crossbill at Rosario and a California Quail at Joseph Whidbey State Park.
71 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Phil, Rex, Denny, Judy Lo., Val, Dianna, Bruce, Teri, Ken, Jane, Pam T., Frank, Karen, Wilma, Doug, Pam P., John E., Amy
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Snow Goose (1), Cackling Goose (75), Canada Goose (140), America Wigeon (2500), Mallard (115), Northern Pintail (425), Canvasback (2), Harlequin Duck (11), Surf Scoter (155), White-winged Scoter (10), Bufflehead (2), Hooded Merganser (1), Ruddy Duck (7)
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS: California Quail (1)
LOONS, GREBES: Red-throated Loom (5), Pacific Loon (1), Common Loon (9), Horned Grebe (36), Red-necked Grebe (32), Eared Grebe (1), Western Grebe (3)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Brandt’s Cormorant (1), Double-crested Cormorant (87), Pelagic Cormorant (58), Great Blue Heron (8)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (7), Northern Harrier (3), Red-tailed Hawk (9), Peregrine Falcon (1)
SHOREBIRDS: Black-bellied Plover (3), Killdeer (9), Black Oystercatcher (48), Greater Yellowlegs (5), Least Sandpiper (110), Western Sandpiper (20),
GULLS, TERNS: Heermann’s Gull (162), Short-billed Gull (3), Ring-billed Gull (2), California Gull (3), Glaucous-winged Gull (140)
ALCIDS, JAEGERS: Common Murre (47), Pigeon Guillemot (5), Marbled Murrelet (5), Rhinoceros Auklet (3)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (12), Eurasian Collared-Dove (1)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (3)
WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (3)
CORVIDS: American Crow (35), Common Raven (1)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (1), Chestnut-backed Chickadee {3)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), Brown Creeper (1)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (4), Pacific Wren (3), Marsh Wren (2)
KINGLETS: Golden-crowned Kinglet (2)
THRUSHES: American Robin (2)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (500)
WAXWINGS, PIPITS: American Pipit (1)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (2), Savannah Sparrow (2), Fox Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (4), Dark-eye Junco (3)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Brewer’s Blackbird (40)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (2), Red Crossbill (2), American Goldfinch (3), House Sparrow (1)