Photo: Marbled Godwit by Philip Dickinson
September 19, 2023
Frank Caruso led a great day of birding with nice weather and good birds to see. One of the first birds seen was a Merlin. One birder mentioned this was one of her favorite birds to see, as she is from the East coast and Merlins there are more of a gray color than the darker brown we see in Washington. We enjoyed comparing the size of one Cackling Goose that was with two Canada Geese. These birds were found on the Old Gardiner Road as were seven California Quail. We all enjoyed the shorebirds at Three Crabs and the Oyster House Road area. A favorite was the Marbled Godwit. We also enjoyed the Black-bellied Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers and a lone Baird’s Sandpiper.
60 species (Approx. qty.)
Attendees: Wilma, Graham, Dianne, Merilee, Joanie, Frank, Melinda, Rex, Ken, Tari, Judy B. Val, Denny, Bruce, Rick, Marsha, Pat, Karen, Lisa, Kameron, Judy La.
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Cackling Goose (1), Canada Goose (77), American Wigeon (2.500), Mallard (24), Northern Pintail (4), Surf Scoter (14), Black Scoter (1), Hooded Merganser (4), Common Merganser (1)
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS: California Quail (7)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (109), Pelagic Cormorant (16)
VULTURE: Turkey Vulture (4)
RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (5), American Kestrel (1), Merlin (2)
SHOREBIRDS: Black-bellied Plover (454), Killdeer (5), Marbled Godwit (12), Baird’s Sandpiper (1), Western Sandpipe (3), Short-billed Dowitcher (12)
GULLS, TERNS: Heermann's Gull (26), Short-Billed Gull (19), Ring-billed Gull (63), California Gull (10), Glaucous-winged Gull (589), Caspian Tern (1)
ALCIDS: Common Murre (4), Pigeon Guillemot (12), Rhinoceros Auklet (39)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (112), Eurasian Collared-Dove (5)
NIGHTHAWKS, SWIFTS: Vaux's Swift (2)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna's Hummingbird (1)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (3)
WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (2)
CORVIDS: Steller's Jay (1), American Crow (57), Common Raven (2)
LARKS, SWALLOWS: Violet-green Swallow (15), Barn Swallow (1)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Chestnut-backed Chickadee (4)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
WRENS: Bewick's Wren (1)
KINGLETS: Golden-crowned Kinglet (3)
THRUSHES: American Robin (1)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (275)
WAXWINGS, PIPITS: Cedar Waxwing (23)
WARBLERS, CHAT: Yellow-rumped Warbler (1), Black-throated Gray Warbler (3), Townsend's Warbler (2)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (1), Song Sparrow (2), White-crowned Sparrow (3), Golden-crowned Sparrow (1)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (121), Brewer's Blackbird (5)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: Purple Finch (1), House Finch (1), American Goldfinch (1)