Photo: Eared Grebe by Mick Thompson
September 20, 2022
Beautiful weather and plenty of birds made for a great end-of-summer outing at Spencer Island and nearby Everett hotspots. Highlights were watching a Peregrine Falcon chase off a Merlin from a popular perch and finding a rare Eared Grebe at the Everett Sewage Lagoons. We also saw the first Hermit Thrush of the season, Cinnamon Teals, a leucistic Ruddy Duck, Horned Grebes, Ospreys, Pectoral Sandpipers, a Wilson’s Snipe, American Pipits and Yellow-rumped Warblers The day ended with five flyover California Scrub Jays at the Ebey Waterfront Trail.
69 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Virginia, Phil, Graham, Rex, Jeff, Judy Lo. Val, Bruce, Sue, Teri, Reg, Pam T., Karen, Wilma, Norwin, Linda, Jeannie
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Canada Goose (21), Wood Duck (9), Gadwall (10), American Wigeon (1), Mallard (900), Cinnamon Teal (3), Northern Shoveler (1000), Northern Pintail (40), Green-winged Teal (18), Ring-necked Duck (64), Greater Scaup (1), Bufflehead (1), Hooded Merganser (1), Common Merganser (9), Ruddy Duck (47)
LOONS, GREBES: Horned Grebe (3), Eared Grebe (1)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (82), Great Blue Heron (12)
VULTURE: Turkey Vulture (1)
RAPTORS: Osprey (11), Bald Eagle (2), Northern Harrier (1), Cooper’s Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Merlin (2), Peregrine Falcon (1)
RAILS, CRANES: Virginia Rail (4), American Coot (250).
SHOREBIRDS: Killdeer (17), Greater Yellowlegs (4), Least Sandpiper (1), Pectoral Sandpiper (3), Wilson’s Snipe (1)
GULLS, TERNS: Short-billed Gull (1), Ring-billed Gull (200), California Gull (1), Glaucous-winged Gull (100), Caspian Tern (1)
DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (200), Eurasian Collared-Dove (2)
HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna’s Hummingbird (2)
KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (2)
WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (5)
CORVIDS: Steller’s Jay (3), California Scrub Jay (5), American Crow (30), Common Raven (2)
LARKS, PIPITS, SWALLOWS: American Pipit (3), Cliff Swallow (1), Barn Swallow (300)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee {5)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (4)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (1), Marsh Wren (5)
THRUSHES: Hermit Thrush (1), American Robin (10)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (1800)
WARBLERS, CHATS: Common Yellowthroat (5), Yellow-rumped Warbler (6)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (1), Savannah Sparrow (5), Song Sparrow (10), White-crowned Sparrow (2), Dark-eye Junco (3)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (15)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (3), American Goldfinch (1)