Photo: Greater Yellowlegs by Philip Dickinson
September 5, 2023
This always popular trip never disappoints, even during “off season.” Starting at Maxwelton, the group, including German visitors Angelica and Annika. enjoyed good views of Osprey, Red-necked Grebe and several Common Loon. Sunlight Beach was surprisingly quiet other than some Common Merganser, but then we heard raucous Steller Jay calls from a willow and located a Great Horned Owl. At the Earth Sanctuary pond, we added Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser. A post-lunch walk at Fort Casey led us to Hutton’s Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Golden-crowned Kinglet. At the Keystone Ferry overlook we identified all three local cormorants—Brandt’s, Double-crested and Pelagic. We also saw Pigeon Guillemot and Rhinoceros Auklet. Deer Lagoon offered Greater Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plover and Whimbrel. Then, just as we lamented a failure to find an American White Pelican, four flew in to complete our day.
70 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Phil, Dianna, Judy Lo., Reg, Rick, Jane, Karen, Val, Pat, Marcia, Jeff, John H., Kathy, Ellen, Lisa, Denny, Ray, Angelica, Annika.
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Canada Goose (162), Wood Duck (1), Gadwall (4), American Wigeon (8), Mallard (467), Northern Pintail (204), Green-winged Teal (2), Surf Scoter (15), Hooded Merganser (1), Common Merganser (21)
LOONS, GREBES: Common Loon (12), Red-necked Grebe (2)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Brandt’s Cormorant (4), Pelagic Cormorant (50), Double-crested Cormorant (13), American White Pelican (4), Great Blue Heron (40)
VULTURE: Turkey Vulture (1)
RAPTORS: Osprey (8), Northern Harrier (1), Bald Eagle (2), Cooper’s Hawk (3), Red-tailed Hawk (3)
RAILS, CRANES: Virginia Rail (2)
SHOREBIRDS: Black-bellied Plover (3), Killdeer (6), Greater Yellowlegs (4), Whimbrel (2), Western Sandpiper (25)
GULLS, TERNS: Bonaparte’s Gull (10), Ring-billed Gull (65), California Gull (33), Glaucous-winged Gull (225), Caspian Tern (24)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (35), Mourning Dove (1)
OWLS: Great Horned Owl (1)
HUMMMINGBIRDS: Anna’s Hummingbird (3)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (2)
WOODPECKERS: Downy Woodpecker (1), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (3)
SHRIKES, VIREOS: Hutton’s Vireo (1)
CORVIDS: Steller’s Jay (3), American Crow (13)
LARKS, SWALLOWS: Barn Swallow (56)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (4), Chestnut-backed Chickadee (3)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (3), Marsh Wren (1)
KINGLETS: Golden-crowned Kinglet (3)
THRUSHES: Swainson’s Thrush (1), American Robin (3)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (164)
WAXWINGS, PIPITS: Cedar Waxwing (10)
WARBLERS, CHATS: Common Yellowthroat (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (3), Savannah Sparrow (2), Song Sparrow (4), White-crowned Sparrow (1), Golden-crowned Sparrow (2), Dark-eyed Junco (1)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (90)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (8), American Goldfinch (2), House Sparrow (2)