washington state, april 2008 - manchester birding · 2019-11-09 · washington state, april 2008 by...
TRANSCRIPT
WASHINGTONSTATE,APRIL2008
byHenryCook
ThistripcomeaboutbecauseIhadtodoaweeksuniversityworkinthestateofWashington,USAsoItaggedafewdaysonbeforehandtogetsomebirdinginonwhatwasforme,anewcontinentandcountry.
IwaslimitedbythefactIcan’tdrivesoarrangedtomeetupwithalocalbirderforafewofthedayswhoIgotincontactwiththroughthebirdingpal.orgwebsite.LuckilyshecoulddriveandIcouldn’twaitforthetriptobegin.
MountStHelens(somewhereinthegloom!)
13thApril–OnflyingtoSeattleIhadtotransferatChicagoandhadmyfirstliferofthetrip,anAmericanRobin.Iwasreallypleasedtoseethisbird,onlytofindoutlaterthatitwasoneofthemostcommoninAmerica!NohitcheswithluggageatSeattleandheadedintoSeattleforthenight.OnthebusIpickedupsomefairlycommonbirdsbutalllifers.Band-tailedPigeonwasunexpectedsoearlyinthetripandthepeepssatbehindmemosthavebeenwonderingwhatIwasdoing,myheadmovingallthetimeasIfollowedbirdsfromthebus.
AmericanRobin
14thApril–6amandIhadmetupwithRachel,thebirdingpal,foradaydrivingnorthfromthecity,throughtheSkagitarea,thendownthroughWhidbeyIslandandbacktothecityagain.WemetupwithacoupleofherbirdingfriendsfromaroundSeattle.ImmediatelyitwasgoodtohavethelocalexperiencealongasweheadednorthwithastopataknownGreatHornedOwlsnest.ThreehugeChickssatonthenestandminuteslateranadultbirdcalledandflewinwithasquirrel.TheywereveryimpressivebirdsbutwesoonmovedontotheSkagitWildlifeArea(http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/r4skagit.htm)wherewewouldseeawidevarietyofspecies.
Aroad-sidestopnearbyatflatagriculturalfieldsproducedbundlesofstuff.HudsonianWhimbrel,Wilson’sSnipe,SongSparrow,Red-wingedBlackbird,TreeSwallow,Violet-greenSwallowandmyfirsteverBaldEagle.Whatabeast.Thecolossalbillandsizemadetheminstantlyobviousoutonthissideofthecascademountainrange.AttherefugeawalkinriparianwoodlandadjacenttomarshandmudflatproducedBewick’sWren,Ruby-crownedKinglet,DownyWoodpecker,Black-cappedChickadee,SavannahandGolden-crownedSparrow,RufousHummer,Red-tailedHawkandaveryearlySwainson’sThrush.Eventhoughthetimeofyearwasalittleearlyforpeakmigration,thenumbersofsomespecieswerehuge.BothformsofYellow-rumpedWarblerdominatedwithbirdseverywhere,ineverypatchofwoodland.
Above:Yellow-rumpedWarbler
Above:Bewick’sWren
Above:BaldEagle
WestoppedmanytimesalongthequietroadsonceoffthefreewaytocheckoutfeedersingardensandsomemoremarshesandaddedKilldeer,Bufflehead,HouseFinch,NorthernRough-wingedSwallow,AmericanWigeon,GreaterYellowlegs,andGreatBlueHerontoourrapidlygrowingdaylist.TheKilldeerwasheardbeforeseenasitscreameditsownnameout.Wefounditattemptingtonestinanactivelumberyardwithlorriesrumblingbyallthetime.Apparentlytheyarefamouslyknowninthestatesfornestinginsillyareasbutgoodonemiftheysurvive!
WecrosseddeceptionpassandwereonWhidbeyIsland,thelongestislandintheUSA.Steepcliffsdescendingintotheblue-greensea-waterheldstunningHarlequinDucks,Double-crestedCormorants,PelagicCormorant,RhinoAuklet,PigeonGuillemot,BlackTurnstone,Surfbird,SpottedTowheeandDark-eyedJunco.TheHarlequinswerealwaysdistantbutoneofthehighlightsofthewholetrip.
Withthewarmandsunnydayprogressingquicklywepoweredonsouthpassingareasoflushsecond-growthconiferswithmanysmallglacialdepressionsfilledwithwaterandalsobirds.MourningDove,CaliforniaQuail,AmKestrel,MarshWren,Lincoln’sSparrow,CommonYellowthroat,andWoodDuckwereseenforthefirsttimeintheseareas.Therehadbeensomanycolourfulbirdsinscenicsettings.I’dhadabrilliantday.Attheferryterminalwherewecrossedbackovertothemainland,wefoundalargegroupofBarrow’sGoldeneye,allsleepingbutexquisite,atopendtotheday.
Above:Barrow’sGoldeneye
Above:RhinocerosAuklet
Above:Killdeer
15thApril–Afteryesterdayscompletelycrazynon-stopbirdingdayIwasupat5amandhoppedonthebusforarelaxingsaunteraroundthe530acreDiscoveryParktothenorthofthecity.Itwasanopportunitytobemoredeferentialtothebirdsand
spendalittletimegettingtoknowthesightsandsoundsofthemorecommonspecies.Firstupinthemixedforestwasanawesomebird,prehistoriceven!AhugePileatedWoodpeckerflewpastcallingandmyheartnearlystoppedwhenitlandedonatreeclose-by.Whatawoodpecker!IhadonlyjuststeppedintotheparkbutIwatchedthisbirddemolishanoldsnagforoverhalfanhouranditwascaptivating.OnwardsItrodfullofexpectation.AfemaleVariedThrushcaughtmyeyesatlowdowninaredcedartree,toolowlightforaphotobuteventhefemalewasacolourfulthrushandoneI’dreallyhopedtoseeonthistrip.Circularpaththroughthewildfeelingparktakeyouthroughmatureforest,meadows,cliffs,sandandrockybeachandcoastalareas.SuchamixproducedmanyspeciesbutnewonesforthetripincludedBeltedKingfisher,Golden-crownedKinglet(rather
likeacrossbetweenaGoldcrestandaFirecrest)andBrandt’sCormorantoffshore.Leavingintheafternoonallowedforachancetotakeinsomeofthecity,lotsofbirdsinthetree-linedstreetsofthecitybutnonenewforthelistplusmymindhadswitchedtomoreculturalactivities(onlybriefly!).AnearlynightwasinorderbeforemeetingupearlyagainwithRachelfor2
daysheadingouteast.
Above:PileatedWoodpecker
Above:SpottedTowhee
Above:Golden-crownedSparrow
16thApril–FirststopofthedayafterdrivingwelloutofSeattleandintothecascademountainrangewasattheStampedePass.AmericanDipperwasfoundquicklyontheriverhereandputonagreatshow,feedingjustasourdipperdoes.VariedThrusheswerepresenthereinlargenumberswithsomeshowingverywellandallowingphotos.Thewinter’ssnowwasstillpresentandlimitedroutesupintothehills.Wedecidednottospendtoomuchtimeheresadlyresultinginmissingseveralhighaltitudespeciesbutallowedustopressontofindothers.FurtheralongtheInterstatewecalledinatCleElumwhereTurkeyVulture,Stellar’sJayandeventuallyEveningGrosbeakwereallseenandallgreattosee.
Above:VariedThrush
Above:TurkeyVulture
Carryingoneastthelandscapechangedtorollinghillsandthevegetationswitchedtodrysagebushes.WebirdedanareafromEllensburgtoUmptanumfallsandWenascreek.InthedesertlikelandscapewesawloadsofMountainandWesternBluebird,WesternMeadowlark,BrewersandVesperSparrow,MountainChickadee,Cassin’sFinchandTownsend’sSolitaire.Highqualitystoporwhat.Thebluebirdsweredoingwellthankstohundredsofboxesalongwhatshouldberenamedbluebirdboulevard.Thedayfinishedwithmorefinesunandquitealotofheatbutstillthebirdskeptcoming.FourAmericanWhitePelicanscruisedalongarivercanyonandafewminuteslateraCanyonWrensangit’slyricaldescendingsongbutremainedunseenasthesunset.Anroad-sidemotelprovidedthebestaccommodationofthetripsofarandhaduswellplacedtoheadoutfurthereastthefollowingday.
17thApril–DrivingalongtheoldVantageHighwaytowards,erm,Vantage,westoppedatsomewellknownspotsforsomesagespeciesnotyetseenonthetrip.Wequicklysawthetwospecieswhichdefinethishabitat;SageThrasherandSageSparrow.Thethrasherwasn’tatypicalthrasher,lookingmorelikeathrushbutperfectlycolouredtoblendinwiththelandscape,thebestwayoffindingittolistentoitslovelyvariedsong.Evenouthere,hundredsofYellow-rumpedWarblerswereclingingtothewind-blownshrubsbeforemovingonnorth,thiswasreallystrangeseeingthemsofaroutoftheirnaturalhabitat.Atvantagethesunwasheatingtheairupquicklyandwebirdedfranticallybeforethequietmid-daylull.ThecanyonhereleadingdowntotheColumbiaRiverheldRockWren,Say’sPhoebe,NashvilleWarblerandRed-napedSapsucker.
Anyareaofwetlandinthisaridareawasgreatforbirdsandnewbirdskeptbeingseen.ThebeautifulcanyonofFrenchman’sCouleeheldCliffSwallow,White-throatedSwiftandloadsoftropicallookingYellow-headedBlackbirds.AnotherroadsidestopafterIshoutedoutthenameofararebirdinWashingtonandwewerewatchingaloneLong-billedCurlew.Somehow,thebillisevenlongerthanonourEurasianrelative!Alittlefurtheralongtheroadandanotherhopoutofthecarprovidedinterestandadrenalineofanotherkindwhenashakingnoisefilledtheair.Ihadbeenclamberingoverrocksinthemid-daysunbutimmediatelyIknewwhatwasmakingthenoise;Rattlesnake,andit’sjustafootinfrontofme.Itmusthavebeenirritatedbecauseitdidn’tstopmakingitschillingnoiseforages.RachelfoundthisextremelyfunnyforsomereasoneventhoughI’dnearlyjustdied!
Above:Say’sPhoebe
Above:Yellow-headedBlackbird
Above:AscloseasIdaredgettoaRattlesnake!
Close-bywehadaspecialspotwiththelatestgenforBurrowingOwl.Attheedgeoftheroadwequicklypickeduponeandthenasecondbirdwhichappearedfromunderaconcretedrainageculvertwheretheywerenesting.ThisspeciesisincreasinglyrareinWashingtonandIwassopleasedtoseethisbirdinthemid-daysunandsoclose-by.
Onwardsthough,andlikelylookingwetlandsnearOthelloandthePotholeswildlifeareatowardstheendofthedayproducedRedhead,Canvasback,CinnamonTeal,AmAvocet,Black-neckedStilt,GreatEgret,CaspianTernandalateTundraSwan.TenSandhillCraneswerefirstheardcronkingthenappearedastheyflewovertheroad,latemigrantsbutsuchelegantbirds.
Above:BurrowingOwl
Above:AnotherBurrowingOwljoinstheparty
Above:SandhillCranes
Above:CinnamonTeals
19thApril–Adayoffyesterdaytorecoverandchecksomemorecityspotsout.IheadedoutearlyonmylastdaytoDiscoveryParkbeforejoiningupwithuniversitymates.Manysimilarspecieswereseenagainbutstillgreatfuntotakemytimeandidthemaloneasachallenge.NewbirdsincludedBonaparte’sGull,Townsend’sWarblerandWesternSandpiper.Allherewiththepassageoftimeandincreasingmigrationinthearea.
FromnowmychancesofseeingnewbirdswaslimitedbutIcarriedthebinsandbecamesomethingofaDavidAttenboroughformyuniversitymatesastheuniversityfieldtripbegan.
Above:Bufflehead
Above:WesternGrebe
Above:Glaucous-wingedGullswerethemostabundantgull
20th–26thApril–JustatwonewbirdsseenwhichwereBlackOystercatcheronarockyshorelineandWesternGullnearthemouthoftheColumbiaRiverattheOregonborder.AllthewhilebirdssuchasCaspianTernwereseenwell,fishingthenumerousmarshesandcoastalwetlands.BaldEagleswereseendailyalongwithplentyofhummers;thrilling,charismaticbirdstogetnon-birdersinterested.
IleftWashingtonwith152speciesonthetriplistand110ofwhichI’dneverseenbefore.WithmuchoftheseseeninashorttimeperiodtherewereobviouslyafewspecieswhichIdidn’tseeandotherwhichhadn’tquitearrivedsofarnorthyet.Thetripwasacoupleofweeksearlyforprimemigrationwiththemostspeciespresentbutthisdidn’tstoptherebeingagreatmixofsomeearlysummerbirdsandsomelatewinterbirdspresentplusalltheresidentspecies.AsaresultIdidn’tseeanyKingbirds,VireosorFlycatchersbutquitegladasthesewouldseemtobeabitofanightmaretoidentify!
ThescenerythroughoutthetripwasfarbeyondwhatI’dimaginedinsizeandextremes.Just3hoursdrivingfromSeattleeastwardspresentedchancestobirdindeciduousandconiferousforests,alongsnowlinedmountainstreamsandinthesemi-aridareasofsagebrushandponderosapinecountry,providingalargerangeofspeciesinafairlysmallarea.ThecityofSeattlewasgreatforabaseandareallypleasantcityall-round.
Ihighlyrecommendthebirdingpalwebsite(http://www.birdingpal.org)formeetingbirderslocaltotheareayouaretravelling.Itistakingaheftyriskbutitpayedoffbig-styleforme.TheSibleyfield-guidewaslight-weightandeasytousesoI’drecommenditforatriptothearea.
Ifanyoneisplanningtoheadoutthatwayandwouldlikemoreinfo.JustprivatemessagemeontheManchesterBirdingforumorsendmeane-mail.
RufousHummingbird
HenryCook,May2008
www.manchesterbirding.com
TRIPLIST
1)StarlingChicago13/04/2008
2)AmericanRobinChicago13/04/2008
3)AmericanCrowSeattle13/04/2008
4)Band-tailedPigeonSeattle13/04/2008
5)Glaucous-wingedGullSeattle13/04/2008
6)HouseSparrowSeattle13/04/2008
7)FeralPigeonSeattle13/04/2008
8)SongSparrowSkagitarea14/04/2008
9)Red-wingedBlackbirdSkagitarea14/04/2008
10)Wilson’sSnipeSkagitarea14/04/2008
11)DunlinSkagitarea14/04/2008
12)GreyPloverSkagitarea14/04/2008
13)HudsonianWhimbrelSkagitarea14/04/2008
14)TreeSwallowSkagitarea14/04/2008
15)Violet-greenSwallowSkagitarea14/04/2008
16)BaldEagleSkagitarea14/04/2008
17)Yellow-rumpedWarblerSkagitarea14/04/2008
a.Audubon’s
b.Myrtle
18)BarnSwallowSkagitarea14/04/2008
19)Bewick’sWrenSkagitarea14/04/2008
20)Ruby-crownedKingletSkagitarea14/04/2008
21)SavannahSparrowSkagitarea14/04/2008
22)PurpleFinchSkagitarea14/04/2008
23)MewGullSkagitarea14/04/2008
24)Ring-billedGullSkagitarea14/04/2008
25)DownyWoodpeckerSkagitarea14/04/2008
26)Black-cappedChickadeeSkagitarea14/04/2008
27)Golden-crownedSparrowSkagitarea14/04/2008
28)BrewersBlackbirdSkagitarea14/04/2008
29)RufousHummingbirdSkagitarea14/04/2008
30)Swainson’sThrushSkagitarea14/04/2008
31)MallardSkagitarea14/04/2008
32)GadwallSkagitarea14/04/2008
33)HouseFinchSkagitarea14/04/2008
34)CanadaGooseSkagitarea14/04/2008
35)GreatHornedOwlMountVernon14/04/2008
36)White-crownedSparrowMountVernon14/04/2008
37)AmericanWigeonMountVernon14/04/2008
38)GreaterYellowlegsWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
39)GreatBlueHeronWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
40)Green-wingedTealWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
41)CommonLoonWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
42)NorthernPintailWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
43)GreaterScaupWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
44)CommonGoldeneyeWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
45)BuffleheadWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
46)NorthernRough-wingedSwallowWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
47)Double-crestedCormorantWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
48)PelagicCormorantWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
49)AmericanGoldfinchWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
50)RavenWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
51)HarlequinDuckWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
52)PigeonGuillemotWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
53)NorthernFlickerWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
54)SurfScoterWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
55)SpottedTowheeWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
56)Dark-eyedJuncoWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
57)Red-breastedMerganserWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
58)RhinocerosAukletWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
59)AmericanCootWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
60)HornedGrebeWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
61)NorthernHarrierWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
62)Orange-crownedWarblerWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
63)HoodedMerganserWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
64)Chestnut-backedChickadeeWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
65)White-wingedScoterWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
66)WesternGrebeWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
67)BlackTurnstoneWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
68)SurfbirdWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
69)Red-throatedLoonWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
70)Red-neckedGrebeWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
71)LesserScaupWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
72)LeastSandpiperWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
73)Short-billedDowitcherWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
74)PineSiskinWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
75)MourningDoveWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
76)AmericanKestrelWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
77)CaliforniaQuailWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
78)MarshWrenWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
79)ShovelerWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
80)Lincoln’sSparrowWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
81)CommonYellowthroatWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
82)WoodDuckWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
83)BrownCreeperWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
84)Anna’sHummingbirdWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
85)Barrow’sGoldeneyeWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
86)BlackBrantWhidbeyIsland14/04/2008
87)Golden-crownedKingletDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
88)VariedThrushDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
89)WinterWrenDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
90)BeltedKingfisherDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
91)PileatedWoodpeckerDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
92)Brandt’sCormorantDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
93)KilldeerDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
94)BushtitDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
95)SanderlingDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
96)Brown-headedCowbirdDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
97)AmericanPipitDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
98)HairyWoodpeckerDiscoveryPark,Seattle15/04/2008
99)AmericanDipperStampedePass16/04/2008
100)CommonCrossbillStampedePass16/04/2008
101)OspreyStampedePass16/04/2008
102)TurkeyVultureStampedePass16/04/2008
103)Stellar’sJayCleElum16/04/2008
104)EveningGrosbeakCleElum16/04/2008
105)Ring-neckedDuckCleElum16/04/2008
106)Black-billedMagpieEllensburgarea16/04/2008
107)Cooper’sHawkEllensburgarea16/04/2008
108)Sharp-shinnedHawkEllensburgarea16/04/2008
109)MountainBluebirdEllensburgarea16/04/2008
110)WesternBluebirdEllensburgarea16/04/2008
111)WesternMeadowlarkEllensburgarea16/04/2008
112)BrewersSparrowUmptanum16/04/2008
113)VesperSparrowUmptanum16/04/2008
114)MountainChickadeeUmptanum16/04/2008
115)Cassin’sFinchUmptanum16/04/2008
116)HermitThrushUmptanum16/04/2008
117)Townsend’sSolitaireUmptanum16/04/2008
118)GoosanderUmptanum16/04/2008
119)AmericanWhitePelicanUmptanum16/04/2008
120)CanyonWrenUmptanum16/04/2008
121)SageThrasherVantageHighway17/04/2008
122)SageSparrowVantageHighway17/04/2008
123)RockWrenVantage17/04/2008
124)Say’sPheobeVantage17/04/2008
125)Red-napedSapsuckerVantage17/04/2008
126)NashvilleWarblerVantage17/04/2008
127)CalliopeHummingbirdVantage17/04/2008
128)RedheadFrenchman’sCoulee17/04/2008
129)White-throatedSwiftFrenchman’sCoulee17/04/2008
130)Yellow-headedBlackbirdFrenchman’sCoulee17/04/2008
131)Long-billedCurlewOthelloarea17/04/2008
132)HornedLarkOthelloarea17/04/2008
133)CacklingGooseOthelloarea17/04/2008
134)AmericanAvocetOthelloarea17/04/2008
135)Black-neckedStiltOthelloarea17/04/2008
136)CinnamonTealOthelloarea17/04/2008
137)BurrowingOwlOthelloarea17/04/2008
138)CaspianTernOthelloarea17/04/2008
139)AmericanGreatEgretOthelloarea17/04/2008
140)GreaterWhite-frontedGooseOthelloarea17/04/2008
141)RuddyDuckOthelloarea17/04/2008
142)CaliforniaGullPotholesarea17/04/2008
143)SandhillCranePotholesarea17/04/2008
144)TundraSwanPotholesarea17/04/2008
145)CanvasbackPotholesarea17/04/2008
146)Ring-neckedPheasantPotholesarea17/04/2008
147)Red-breastedNuthatchDiscoveryPark,Seattle18/04/2008
148)Townsend’sWarblerDiscoveryPark,Seattle18/04/2008
149)Bonaparte’sGullDiscoveryPark,Seattle18/04/2008
150)WesternSandpiperDiscoveryPark,Seattle18/04/2008
151)BlackOystercatcherWhidbeyIsland21/04/2008
152)WesternGullLongBeach24/04/2008