An almost adult Bald Eagle, with some black in the tail and the “Osprey eye” look.
Marian and I got out of town today and headed for the coast. My primary goal was to see the Gyrfalcon at Westhaven State Park and to see how many FOY birds I could find. The CBC at Ocean Shores was so a battle with the weather that I got little on that day, so low hanging fruit for FOY birds was available. It seemed like except for no new rocky shorebirds we had great success. Willets at the only dependable place to find them in WA, the Tokeland Marina.
We headed for Tokeland first, hoping for the tide to be low enough that Willet and Marbled Godwit would still be around. Willets were easy, as one flushed off the beach in front of the parking lot as I got out of the car, and a total of 16 were easy to see. Marbled Godwit not so much, but a single MAGO was at the end of Graveyard Spit at our next stop. Bright sunshine and no rain held all morning, and we were having great fun. The bonus of Tokeland was at least 12, maybe more Snowy Plovers at Graveyard Spit. They were running aroung sometimes near the water, often higher up on the sand, tiny, pale, shortbilled plovers with indistinct incomplete neck bands. I’d not seen them there before, but checked eBird bar charts, and it looks like the second half of Jan is the best chance for them there.
Greter White-fronted Geese were seen on a lawn in Tokeland too. Adult Greater White-fronted Goose Juvenile Greater White-fronted Goose
We tried the beach at Warrenton Cannery Road, but no SNPL there, so we were especially grateful for those at Tokeland.
As we got to Westport we picked up a nice flock of Semi-palmated Plover in the Coast Guard parking lot. Were they trying to get heat off the pavement? There were very close Least Sandpipers in the ditch beside the car. They shocked Marian with their tiny size, she thought they must be baby birds. Semi-palmated Plovers
From there a dash for the Gyr. Found almost immediately after putting bins on a Bald Eagle, and then seeing the Gyr on the next more distant utility pole. It was very used to people as a steady stream of bike riders did not seem to faze it a bit. We looked from the road across the open field, then drove over to park by the large tower, where it was much closer. It posed for great views and photo ops, then flew to a stump for even better viewing. An awesome bird. Maybe the best looks I’ve ever had of a Gyrfalcon. Gyrfalcon Gyr in flight
We tried for rocky shorebirds at the jetty, then at the marina rocks, but found only 3 or 6 (tyhe same 3 twice?) Black Turnstones.
Bottle Beach was fun, with a large flock of Marbled Godwits (est 450). along with Black-bellied Plover and Dunlin, but nothing different aI could find. As the tide receded more and more birds came in, and it rained harder and harder. We decided to call it a trip and head home as the weather report called for rain all night and most of tomorrow. We had considered an overnight and birding Ocean Shores tomorrow, but chose home cooking, staying drier and our own bed instead.
A great day though, and an in-our-face look at a Gyrfalcon is hard to beat.
Good birding and good day!
What a wonderful break from hunkering down close to home. Bruce LaBar, Ken Brown, Will Brooks and I birded the north central WA areas that in the past has been one of the favorite ABC Birding Club trips. We lucked out in facing no fog, no snow until flurries on the third day, and had terrific days on both the Waterville Plateau Friday and in the Okanogan Highlands on Saturday. It was cold (8-25 much of the time) but not windy, sunny and overall very comfortable.
We started by birding the Confluence State Park in Wenachee briefly. On the drive in Will spotted a Say’s Phoebe foraging by the restroom. This was somewhat unexpectedly early for the phoebe to return north. A several Snow Geese and a Greater White-fronted Goose were a mixed flock of Canada and Cackling Geese on the lawns. A fair mix of ducks on the river provided nothing special, but we checked it quickly and headed for Waterville. Our first east-side specialties were 5 Gray Partridge that flushed from the side of the road outside Waterville. Usual common winter specialties like Horned Lark and Rough-legged Hawk were seen before our first major stop at the Lamoine Windbreak. We walked along the right side of the windbreak hoping for a Long-eared Owl. Ken and I saw a largish bird flush shortly after starting the walk, but it took a while before (I’ll cut and paste this phrase for frequent use) Will spotted a roosting LEOW fairly high in a pine tree, visible only silhouetted against a tiny gap of visible sky, and we all got to see it well. Long-eared Own at the Lamoine Windbreak
We birded our way to Withrow, found nothing special there and then stopped by the area on D Rd NW where I had found American Tree Sparrows in December. Again Will found these first, and we all managed looks at these handsome sparrows. We picked up a Prairie Falcon on a pole at Road 14 NE. On Road F we drove up on a huge flock of Snow Buntings, with modest numbers of Horned Larks, and at least 4 Gray-crowned Rosy Finches. A small part of the flock of Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, Gray-crowned Rosy Finches and American Goldfinches
Shortly after leaving the flock, still high from the excitement a Snowy Owl flushed just in front of Ken and Bruce in the lead car. We all got great looks at the big white owl in the bright sun as it flew away over the snowy wheat fields and disappeared over a low hill.
Since we had seen almost all of the hoped for Waterville Plateau specialties except Gyrfalcon, and these had not been reported in the area recently, we headed for the Bridgeport State Park to look for Northern Saw-whet Owls and Canyon Wren.
The owls were in the exact two trees as usual, and the wren responded to a recording with calls and showed on the cliffside just past the main park.
Northern Saw Whet Owl at Bridgeport State Park in the usual small tree.
We called it a day and headed for the Omak Inn for the night. I ended the day with 16 FOW (first of the year) species for WA, and we all enjoyed homemade spaghetti and salad prepared by Marian, along with apple pie.
Will tucking into Marian B’s home cooking.
Saturday was another sunny perfect weather day. We managed calling but not seen Chukar at the Fancher Flats, missed Sharp-tailed Grouse on Siwash Creek Rd, but managed a spot with all three species of nuthatches along with lots of Mountain Chickadees. At the Highlands Sno Park a flock of about 35 White-winged Crossbills flew right overhead in the parking lot, calling loudly, as Will and Bruce shouted out the ID. I got decent but a quick look, but unfortunately Ken was in the outhouse and missed them altogether. No woodpeckers showed or were heard, and we headed off toward the higher elevations. Prairie Falcon
In the Highland Meadows area Ken and Bruce stopped us when they located a nice flock of 49 Snow Buntings perched up in a tree giving us a nice show. Will spotted a Northern Pygmy Owl perched on Nealey Road, and we added the first of a few Clark’s Nutcrackers.
Mary Ann Creek Road came through as is usual. Will spotted a distant flock of tiny finches out across the large cattail marsh, and I managed nice looks at a pair of perched Common Redpolls before a Northern Shrike terrorized the flock and they took flight. This did give great flight looks and a chance to estimate over 150 birds in the flock. We came across two more flocks of redpolls and conservatively entered an eBird count of 210 for the area. We stopped near Teal Lake for a look and listen, and Will heard a finch-like sound. On looking around he located a single Pine Grosbeak high in a tree, and we got scopes set up just as the other west-side group of Shep Thorpe, Scott Ramos and Jon Anderson coming from the opposite end of the road came by and we got them on the bird too. Throughout the trip our two groups shared sightings, helping each other get onto the great birds in the area. A treat to see Snow Buntings perched in a tree at close range.
The Chesaw area added little except a chance for Bruce to buy a 6-pack of beer we could enjoy back at the Omak Inn later. No Great-gray Owls or woodpeckers showed at the Sno Park as we watched darkness come, but we did hear distant Great-horned Owls hooting.
Dinner was vegan meatloaf, potato salad and peas again by Marian Burns, and we all sent thanks to her for the home cooking. A northern Pygmy Owl posing nicely.
Sunday we had two really hoped for species, Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Bohemian Waxwing. We worked hard for them, but luck was not with us the last day. We managed Wild Turkey, Townsend’s Solitaire, and Ruffed Grouse at Conconully, and later great looks at a Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk, FOY Cedar Waxwings that had us hoping for a Bohemian, and lots more great scenery. I did add two Okanogan lifers on the river in Greater Scaup and Tundra Swan.
On the way home we stopped at Cashmere to pick up county lifer Lesser Goldfinch at a known feeder before breaking up for the trek home.
A good time had by all, and I added another 9 FOY bird Saturday and 4 FOY on Sunday. I ended the trip with a 2021 list of 171 species, really good for me for the date, and Will remained in 1st place for 2021 on eBird at 185 species. Getting home safely was of course good, and we all had a great time.
Until next time. Good birding and good day!
The Bird Banter Podcast is 2 years old now, with my first episode published 2 years ago tomorrow, Jan 22, 2019. A lot has happened since then. The 89 numbered episodes of this podcast have covered a time during which we have spent the last year in a worldwide pandemic, a U.S. presidential election that seemed to dominate and IMO drag our country through a time I hope can be put behind us. That said, I’ve had a lot of fun doing TBBP. In this episode I look back, at guests, stories, and more.
I won’t dwell on this, but want to here again give thanks to everyone who has helped. Listeners, guests, family and friends, and the whole birding community for your encouragement and support.
Let’s make the next 2 years better in many ways, and continue to enjoy and love our passion for birds and birding.
Thanks again.
Ed
Soaring White-tailed Kite
Too tired for a full report, but got west today, to Salaneña, Roma Bluffs, Falcon Dam State Park, and places near there. Tried in the AM without success for Morelet Seedeater but got great birds esp. a the feeders. Then off to Falcon Dam, then back for successful look for the seadeater. Bruce located it, I got to see it and at first Ken missed it. Ken was the only one of us who needed the MOSE for his ABA list, so bummer, but then he found it, a great look at a male, for his lifer. Other highlights were a soaring White-tailed Kite, and great looks at many great birds.
Yesterday I went to Dupont looking in Edmond’s Marsh for a White-throated Sparrow, and though I had no luck I did get great light on these Mourning Doves. Mourning Doves at the Edmond’s Marsh area in Dupont yesterday.
Today I went to the 212th Street Marsh hoping for these Cinnamon Teal, but really mostly for Black Phoebe. No luck on the phoebe, but the teal showed closely and well in the morning light.
I love this tail-shot of this Spotted Towhee there too. Cinnamon Teal
Next was a try for the out-of-place Black-billed Magpie. I thought this would be an easy “get” but it was not to be found. This juvenile Cooper’s Hawk drying its flight feathers was a nice consolation. This bird seemed gigantic, much larger than adjacent crows, so I’m supposing it is a first year female.
As my good friend Blair Bernson says, always have a consolation prize when you go on a chase.
Good birding and good day!
It was really fun to talk with a professional story teller on The Bird Banter Podcast #88 with Brian “Fox” Ellis. Brian is a lifelong birder and story teller. He started earning money telling stories in college, and this evolved into a profession. I have to say stories are what powers long road trips with birders, and the lore is one of the parts of birding with friends I most enjoy. Most birders, IMHO are storytellers, and the stories are integral to birding.
I think Brian is right in that most of us come from storytelling families. I hope that you all enjoy the stories that are an integral part of this podcast. One of the things I most enjoy about doing this podcast is hearing the birding story of my guests.
Brian’s web page, Fox Tales International, will give you more information about Brian and his new books.
We talked about a number of Brian’s favorite birding sites today. You can read about many of them on the Illinois River Road Birding webpage.
Brian’s web page is at Fox Tales International and his you tube channel is here.
Here is the Hummingbird Tales video Brian mentions as one you may enjoy.
I have been really pleased with the start to the year birding and here are a couple of photos of cool birds I’ve seen. The Common Grackle I saw on Jan 11th, my 399th Washington State species, is here along with the smaller Brewer’s Blackbirds. White-tailed Kite on Puget Island. A terrible photo of the WA first Winter Wren found by Will Brooks.
Please tell your favorite birding story in the comments section of this blog post. Thanks.
Until next time. Good birding. Good day.
Dan Cooper is my guest on The Bird Banter Podcast #87, and we talk about his youth as a young California birder in the fabulous birding community that was California in the latter 20th century, about his career as an ecological monitoring and research consultant, and about birding passions. Enjoy.
I feel like every time I get to talk with a birder who grew up birding in California during what I think of as the golden age of birding there, the 1960-1990 timer range, I learn lots, enjoy the stories, and am a bit envious of their experiences. Dan Cooper was a part of that birding community, and as a podcast guest shares some of his stories of that time and more.
We talk about a mutual friend John Sterling (epoisode #10) who was one of the trip leaders and guides on a trip I took to Kenya with three prior guests, Bruce LaBar, Heather Ballash and Marcus Roening. They are also the Pierce County birders I talk about in the introduction.
It was fun to hear Dan talk about his achieving his PhD recently on the topic of urban birds. Here is an article about the Goshawks of Berlin, and here is a link to the ABC Birding club meeting with Ed Deal when he talked about his study of Cooper’s Hawks in the Seattle Area.
I wish you all a great New Year, great birding and safe travels as time passes.
On the rainy start to 2021 this blue sky on the afternboon of Jan 3 wiht Ken on the Vashon CBC may be the rarest sighting so far.
A jump start to 2021 WA year list. Weather has been obstructive, but despite that I feel like I’ve had a pretty decent jump start to my WA species list in the3 new year.
Marian and I started the new year on New Year’s Day, after a quiet stay-at-home New Year’s Eve virtual dance party. We started at Garfield Gulch, the area immediately east of our condo, where at the walking trail beside the park a Barred Owl swooped right over Marian’s head as I was looking the other way, so she had the first bird of the year and I missed it. Not to fear, a pair of BAOWs responded to a recording at the lower end of Puget Park immediately to follow, though my first species of the year was a calling Pacific Wren before the owls.
We tried for Northern Saw-whet Owl at the Rhododendron Park area of Pt. Defiance, where one was calling a few weeks ago, but no luck as the sun started to rise about 7:45. We did see 54 Varied Thrush flush from the roadsides as we drove out through the park along with a few juncos.
Maybe the birding highlight of the day was a pair of Long-tailed Ducks bobbing in the waves at DeMolay Spit, right after we had Wood Ducks hiding in the wooded wetlands of Adam Tallman Park in Gig Harbor on the way to Fox Island. All 3 loons, and all 3 cormorants, and a decent variety of water birds were present, but we missed Common Murre and Harlequin Duck there. The Harlequin Ducks were easily seen though at Purdy Spit along with Barrow’s Goldeneye.
There were 4 male Eurasian Wigeon at Titlow lagoon on the lawn, and we headed east to get some inland birds. Ruddy Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, Lesser Scaup and American Coots were at 56th Street where a nice neighbor showed us that the lock on the gate is for looks, it is really open. Remote Control miniature boat operators ruled Levee Pond, but Golden-crowned Sparrows were in the brambles along with an Orange-crowned Warbler. Usually Pine Siskins are seen high in trees, or in bouncing flocks high in the sky. This winter there are so many around that feeders give chances for close looks and photos.
Both swans, two blackbird species and the expected American Kestrels along with hoped for but not expected Northern Harrier and 3 calling Virginia Rails wrapped up the day as the skies opened and we quit a out 3 PM.
Saturday was my day to help on the Gray’s Harbor CBC with Bruce LaBar, Will Brooks, and Laurel Parshall. The weather was impossible, and we made a brief try anyway, birding only from 8:20 to about 11 AM before we all except Will bailed. Western Gull, Sanderling, Peregrine Falcon, Herring and Iceland (Thayer’s) Gulls were the primary FOY birds for me.
Sunday Ken and I did our usual Kitsap side of the Vashon CBC. The wind was high and it was raining early, so I didn’t go to try help with owling and met Ken at the Purdy Park & Ride at 7:45. We birded the usual course all day, ending at Black-jack valley area about 4:45 PM as the sun set. We did pretty well considering rain all morning. Highlights for me were 15 calling Tundra Swans as a fly-over, Purple Finch and Mourning Doves at Burley at feeders, Greater Scaup in good numbers on Long Lake, along with pair of Red-breasted Sapsuckers at a homeowners pond just off Hwy 16. I finished the day with 96 species YTD.
Today it was really rainy in the AM, but Marian and I decided to go to the American Lake Camp Murray Boat Ramp hoping for Redhead and Canvasback. As we drove in Marian exclaimed that maybe we were lucky as a huge flock of ducks was right in front of the boat ramp, and not hiding in the cove out of sight. She was right, and we easily had 5 Redheads, 4 males and a female, along with at least 28 Canvasback and a big flock of Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, and a few mixed Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead. This was a really big Pierce count of Redhead. Back at home I added Dunlin and Black Turnstone along with Yellow-rumped Warbler to bring the year list to 103. It is always startling to see how easy the first 100 species goes, and then how relatively slow it gets until spring migration after that.
Well, maybe if the weather and my energy holds up I’ll try a drive to SW WA tomorrow hoping to put together a relatively big week to start the year.
I cannot wait to get to Costa Rica. Not just for birding, though I expect that to be fabulous. My daughter lives there and I realized that all of 2020 has now gone by without seeing her and seeing her live in Costa Rica. The vaccine, control of this pandemic, and freedom to comfortably travel safely again cannot come fast enough for me.
Jason Westlake is a fascinating guest from my standpoint. As I mention in the introduction to this episode Jason is my first self-described traveller as a guest. Sure, lots of us travel, and many likely travel to bird, or bird while travelling, or both, but how many of us think of travelling as our vocation? My guess is not many of us.
If you visit Costa Rica you can find Jason at Tierra de Sueños Lodge website. I mention several other episodes in the intro so here are quick links to some of those.
