Photo: Great Blue Heron by Philip Dickinson
April 18, 2023
There was a stiff breeze off the water and the forecast was miserable, but we had some sun and never more than a few drops of rain. Thanks for watching over us, Virginia. Ducks and Great Blue Herons in the marshes of Union Bay Natural Area, Washington Arboretum and Magnuson Park were in fine plumage. We even saw the brown neck ring on one Ring-necked Duck. We also counted at least five Myrtle subspecies of Audubon Warbler. Other bird highlights were a close encounter with a Cooper’s Hawk, nesting Ospreys, a Virginia Rail, Bushtits and a Bushtit nest. Mammal sightings were a pair of raccoons and a river otter at Union Bay.
50 species (approx. qty.)
Attendees: Phil, Rex, Dianna, Tari, Doug, Carlos, Carol, Rick, Maureen T., Maureen Z., Pam T., Catha, Pat M., Marcia, Ginger, David
CHECKLIST:
WATERFOWL: Canada Goose (14), Wood Duck (5), Gadwall (12), American Wigeon (4), Mallard (19), Northern Shoveler (21), Northern Pintail (2), Ring-necked Duck (10), Bufflehead (3), Hooded Merganser (2)
LOON, GREBES: Pied-billed Grebe (9)
PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (3), Great Blue Heron (8)
RAPTORS: Osprey (3), Cooper’s Hawk (1), Bald Eagle (6), Red-tailed Hawk (2),
RAILS, CRANES: Virginia Rail (1), American Coot (62)
GULLS, TERNS: Glaucous-winged Gull (6)
HUMMMINGBIRDS: Anna’s Hummingbird (3), Rufous Hummingbird (1)
WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (4)
CORVIDS: Steller’s Jay (2) American Crow (38), Common Raven (2)
LARKS, SWALLOWS: Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1), Tree Swallow (7), Violet-Green Swallow (16), Barn Swallow (4)
CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped Chickadee (26), Chestnut-backed Chickadee (1), BUSHTIT (7)
NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
WRENS: Bewick’s Wren (7), Marsh Wren (3)
KINGLETS: Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6)
THRUSHES: American Robin (6)
MIMIDS, STARLINGS: European Starling (2)
WARBLERS, CHATS: Yellow-rumped Warbler (12)
LONGSPURS, SPARROWS: Spotted Towhee (4), Song Sparrow (17), White-crowned Sparrow (1), Golden-crowned Sparrow (3), Dark-eyed Junco (8)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (19)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (5), American Goldfinch (11)