Photo: Black Oystercatcher by Philip Dickinson
April 25, 2023
Frank Caruso led a huge turnout on one of our most popular trips, and we were rewarded with a beautiful day and lots of birds in Sequim after some morning clouds. On the ferry ride to Kingston, we saw at least 180 Bonaparte’s Gulls. After seeing dozens of Pigeon Guillemots swimming near the Hood Canal Bridge, we stopped along Old Gardiner Road and then at Gardner Beach, where we saw Western Grebe, Harlequin Duck, Common Loon and Osprey. At our lunch stop at John Wayne Marina, we were entertained by a Black Oystercatcher, Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklets and a Merlin. Highlights at Three Crabs and Dungeness Landing Park were Marbled Godwit, Short-billed Dowitcher, Whimbrel, Black-bellied Plover and Brants.
71 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Frank, Phil, Rex, Dianna, Tari, Doug, Carlos, Carol, Maureen Z., Pam T., Catha, Pat M., Marcia, Teri, Bruce, Melinda, Lonnie, Louise, Shelley, Jane, Wilma, Pam, John E., John H., Graham, Robin, Judy L. Lianne
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Brant (208), Canada Goose (4), Gadwall (7), American Wigeon (4), Mallard (1200), Eurasian Wigeon (2), Mallard (14), Northern Shoveler (3), Green-winged Teal (100), Harlequin Duck (3), Surf Scoter (15), Bufflehead (44), Common Goldeneye (4), Hooded Merganser (1), Common Merganser (6), Red-breasted Merganser (32)
LOON, GREBES: Common Loon (7), Horned Grebe (9), Red-necked Grebe (1), Western Grebe (14
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Pelagic Cormorant (4), Double-crested Cormorant (7), Great Blue Heron (4)
RAPTORS: Osprey (1), Bald Eagle (18), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Merlin (1)
SHOREBIRDS: Black-bellied Plover (5), Killdeer (2), Black Oystercatcher (2), Whimbrel (1), Marbled Godwit (1), Greater Yellowlegs (1), Dunlin (25), Short-billed Dowitcher (14)
GULLS, TERNS: Bonaparte’s Gulls (180), Short-billed Gull (1), Glaucous-winged Gull (100), Western Gull (1), Caspian Tern (2)
ALCIDS, JAEGERS: Common Murre (1), Pigeon Guillemot (32), Marbled Murrelet (6), Rhinoceros Auklet (6)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (9), Eurasian Collared-Dove (1)
HUMMMINGBIRDS: Anna’s Hummingbird (3)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (1)
WOODPECKERS: Downy Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (1)
CORVIDS: Steller’s Jay (1) American Crow (16), Common Raven (2)
LARKS, SWALLOWS: Violet-Green Swallow (9), Barn Swallow (3)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Chestnut-backed Chickadee (1)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1), Brown Creeper (1)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (1)
KINGLETS: Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1)
THRUSHES: American Robin (15)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (2)
WARBLERS, CHATS: Orange-crowned Warbler (10, Yellow-rumped Warbler (1), Townsend’s Warbler (2)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (1), Savannah Sparrow (4), Song Sparrow (6), White-crowned Sparrow (16), Golden-crowned Sparrow (1), Dark-eyed Junco (1)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (9), Brewer’s Blackbird (1), Brown-headed Cowbird (6)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (4), American Goldfinch (5), House Sparrow (1)