Bird Walk at Mukilteo’s Big Gulch

By Douglas Resnick

October 5, 2019

Terry, Sue, Lisa, Michelle, and I met on a cool, cloudy morning at Swamp Creek Park and Ride.  From there, we carpooled to Mukilteo's 92nd Street Park.  Following a trail to the southeast led us through a torii‐like structure and on into the Big Gulch trail system.

Birdsong and calls were present from the outset, and they were very useful, as many of the birds chose to stay hidden in the brush or to forage high in the trees.  The gulch is little developed, except for the trails; so, the brush is thick, and some of the trees have grown very tall.   We often heard the sounds of Northern Flickers, Pacific Wrens, and Song Sparrows.  There were also occasional cries from Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers.

The initial trail is known as the North Fork.  After walking down a zigzagging set of stairways, we reached the intersection of the gulch's three main trails and turned onto the West Fork.  Along this stretch, paralleling the park's creek, we were fortunate to observe some birds that came down nearly to ground level among the trees. Thus, we obtained a clear view of one of several Golden‐crowned Kinglets that we had been hearing for some time as we walked, and we watched two Brown Creepers ply their craft on a stout trunk.  We were pleasantly surprised by two more colorful arrivals: a Townsend’s Warbler and a Red‐breasted Sapsucker.

The West Fork ends at the torii opposite the wastewater treatment plant.  We returned the way we had come, still listening to birds, but also paying attention to other elements of the scenery, such as the numerous mushrooms.  Between brief rain showers near the end of the walk, we caught sight of a Hermit Thrush, two Spotted Towhees, and two Song Sparrows on a patch of ground near the trail.

We reached our meeting point around noon, after having reported observing 23 species on eBird.  We finished the outing with lunch at Indigo Kitchen and Alehouse. 

Bird Walk at Lakes Ponds near Mill Creek

By Douglas Resnick

November 2, 2019

Terry, Joanie, Jerry, Lisa, and I met on a cool, partly cloudy morning at Ash Way Park and Ride.  From there, we carpooled to Martha Lake, Buffalo Ponds, and Silver Lake.  We reported observations of 38 species on eBird.

Our first stop was at Martha Lake Park, which is located at the south end of the lake.  We began by checking out the trees and bushes along the edge of the lake, where we found plenty of kinglets, chickadees, bushtits, and siskins.  Each time we came to a pier, we walked along it, in order better to view the lake and the sky above.  We were rewarded by views of Common Merganser, Mallard, Pied‐billed Grebe, and Bald Eagle.   We completed this segment of the day’s outing by walking on the paved trail closer to the street, finding starling, gull, and pigeon.

Our second stop was at Buffalo Ponds.  This is not a park, but an undeveloped area that includes ponds, and through which passes a single, paved trail.  We walked to one trailhead from a nearby shopping area, almost immediately discovering several Wood Ducks in a pond visible from the street.  In ponds visible from the trail, we saw Hooded Mergansers and Green‐winged Teals.   Numerous Canada Goose flew overhead, as did several Red‐winged Blackbirds.  One Red‐tailed Hawk looked out upon the scene from a tall snag.  In the background, we heard a Killdeer call.

Jerry bid us adieu, then the remainder of the party set out for Silver Lake.  We parked at Hauge Homestead Park, near the south end of the lake, then walked a mostly paved trail to Green Lantern Park near the east end.  The trail was alternately close to the lake and close to the street, and several piers led from the trail to positions over the water.  Near the start, we found a Belted Kingfisher in a tree; it had caught a fish and was battering it against the side of the tree, perhaps in the hope of stunning or killing it, as it was still wiggling.   Other notable finds included an American Coot and a Cooper’s Hawk.

We finished birding around 12:30 p.m., then walked a short distance from Green Lantern Park to L’Artisan French Bakery for lunch.  Later, on our way back to the car, we saw a flock of Ring‐billed Gull circling near the first pier.  They finally set out in more of a line, apparently chasing the one that had food.  On approaching closer to the pier, we found the food source:  someone feeding the Mallards. 

Family Picnic & Birdwalk to Evergreen Arboretum

By Jonathan Blubaugh

December 8, 2019

On December 8th Pilchuck Audubon Society, Academia Latina, and the North Sound Birders’ Meetup visited Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens and Legion Park in Everett for a picnic and birdwalk. 

Academia Latina leader, Rosamaria Graziani, informed me that we 28 participants. I’m not sure if that included the PAS and Meetup contingents. We had about seven people from meetup plus myself and PAS Treasurer, Judy Hall in attendance as well.

As many of you know Legion Park is where Everett has held their Independence Day fireworks display, which I once briefly attended.

We had good weather for December in Washington, cool, mostly cloudy, and free of rain for the duration of the event. We started out in the arboretum, which I particularly enjoyed because many of the plantings are labeled. From there we also spied the neighbors’ backyards for birds because the residents had feeder that were attracting a variety of winter birds. The arboretum also abuts a city golf course where a flock of Canada Geese announced their arrival with familiar honking.

Rosamaria, having set up feeders at her home as well, was excited to share the results. Along with the expected hummingbirds and usual backyard suspects she has also been feeding the crows. The crows are loyal and appreciative. Rosamaria shared that they had brought her shiny bobbles as gifts. We’ve heard of such behavior before on TV, but is was so cool to hear it firsthand! Please see the attached photo of her collected treasures bestowed upon her by her murder of crows.

After the gardens we kind of wandered apart. I went off in one direction towards ball fields beyond which we found our national symbol (Bald Eagle) calling loudly. They were perched just north of the park high in a tree with a commanding overview of the mouth of the Snohomish River. The park sits on a buff with great vistas to the north and west where the Snohomish flows into the sea. Some of the others went the opposite way towards the west with its view of the harbor, city, Jetty Island, Hat Island, Possession Sound and Port Gardiner. We doubled back and rejoined them. From the overlooks we added a few marine birds to our list. The chatter of a kingfisher far below alerted us to his presence as well as with a flock of Killdeer. There was some unwelcome noise from an off-road four-wheeler splashing through the mud on the Highway 529 right away below.

Next we returned to the gardens for those who missed them on the first go ‘round. Photo ops and selfies also proved to be in order.

Here’s a list of most of the birds we saw: forty Canada Geese, thirty Mallards, three feral pigeons, a pair of Anna’s Hummingbirds,  a dozen Killdeer, a Ring-Billed Gull, 34 Glaucous-Winged Gulls, a Double-Crested Cormorant, a Cooper’s Hawk, two Bald Eagles, the Belted Kingfisher, six crows, a Chestnut-Backed Chickadee, 54 European Starlings, 14 American Robins, three Dark-Eyed Juncos, and a Spotted Towhee. I also heard a couple of Black-Capped Chickadees, a Red-Breasted Nuthatch, a Song Sparrow, a Red-Winged Blackbird, & a Yellow-Rumped Warbler. All were uploaded to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology via the eBird mobile application.

Samish Flats

December 3, 2019

Our best sighting was from the road just prior to turning to the West 90. We stopped at a field with water and found Yellowlegs, Western Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers, and Dunlin. We saw many Eagles, Red-tailed hawks, and Rough-legged Hawks.

65 Species (Approx. Qty.)

Attendees: Jim, Virginia, Wilma, Rex, Bev, Ken, Melinda, Maureen, Terri, Rick, Reg, Sue, Junelle, Merilee, Maggie, Craig, Val, Judy, Dick, and Scott

CHECKLIST:

WATERFOWL: Snow Goose (2,000), Brant (350), Trumpeter Swan (300), Tundra Swan (2), American Wigeon (1,000), Mallard (8), Northern Shoveler (4), Green-winged Teal (55), Northern Pintail (4), Greater Scaup (2), Lesser Scaup (7), Surf Scoter (10), Long-tailed Duck (6),  Bufflehead (150), Common Goldeneye (3), Red-breasted Merganser (2)

LOONS, GREBES: Red-throated Loon (1), Common Loon (3), Horned Grebe (4), Red-necked Grebe (2)

PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (4), Pelagic Cormorant (2), Great Blue Heron (30)

RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (51), Northern Harrier (10), Red-tailed Hawk (35), Rough-legged Hawk (8), American Kestrel (5), Peregrine Falcon (2)

SHOREBIRDS: Black-bellied Plover (30), Lesser Yellowlegs (1), Western Sandpiper (1), Dunlin (5,000)

GULLS: Ring-billed (80), Glaucous-winged Gull (2)

ALCIDS: Pigeon Guillemot (4)

DOVES, PIGEONS: Eurasian Collared-Dove (15), Mourning Dove (4)

HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna's (1)

KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (1)                                                                                    

WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (6)

CORVIDS: Steller's Jay (1), American Crow (26), Common Raven (10)

CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped (25), Chestnut-backed (15)

NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Red-breasted Nuthatch (4), Brown Creeper (9)

WRENS: Bewick's (1), Pacific (1)

KINGLETS: Golden-crowned (6), Ruby-crowned (2)

THRUSHES: American Robin (2)

STARLING: European Starling (1,800)

SPARROW, TANAGERS: Spotted Towhee (12), Fox Sparrow (3), Song Sparrow (20), White-crowned Sparrow (20), Golden-crowned Sparrow (1), Dark-eyed Junco (6)

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (500), Western Meadowlark (3), Yellow-headed Blackbird (1), Brewer's Blackbird (6)

FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (13)

Lummi Island

December 10, 2019

71 Species (Approx. Qty.)

Attendees: Jim, Wilma, Graham, Virginia, Ken, Bev, Rick, Charlotte, Terri, Rex, Merrilee, Craig, Dick, Frank, Reg, Sue and Maggie

CHECKLIST:

WATERFOWL: Brant (500), Cackling Goose (6), Canada Goose (21), Trumpeter Swan (25), Gadwall (1), Eurasian Wigeon (2), American Wigeon (250), Mallard (100), Northern Shoveler (1), Green-winged Teal (6), Northern Pintail (480), Greater Scaup (200), Lesser Scaup (200), Harlequin Duck (2), Black Scoter (5), Surf Scoter (110), White-winged Scoter (55), Long-tailed Duck (8), Bufflehead (72), Common Goldeneye (16), Barrow's Goldeneye (2), Hooded Merganser (2), Red-breasted Merganser (14)

LOONS, GREBES: Red-throated Loon (3), Common Loon (10), Horned Grebe (20), Red-necked Grebe (2)

PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (7), Pelagic Cormorant (2), Great Blue Heron (10)

RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (12), Northern Harrier (6), Red-tailed Hawk (10), Rough-legged Hawk (4), American Kestrel (1), Peregrine Falcon (1)

SHOREBIRDS: Killdeer (1), Black Oystercatcher (11), Dunlin (29)

GULLS: Mew (2), Ring-billed (1), Glaucous-winged (5)

ALCIDS: Pigeon Guillemot (2)

DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (10), Eurasian Collared-Dove (10)

OWLS: Short-eared Owl (1)

HUMMINGBIRDS: Anna's (2)

KINGFISHER: Belted Kingfisher (2)

WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (5)

SHRIKES: Northern (3)

CORVIDS: Steller's Jay (1), American Crow (25), Common Raven (1)

CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped (5), Chestnut-backed (1)

WRENS: Marsh (1)

THRUSHES: American Robin (2)

STARLING: European Starling (300)

SPARROW, TANAGERS: Spotted Towhee (12), Swamp Sparrow (1), Fox Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (35), Lincoln's Sparrow (1),White-crowned Sparrow (7), Golden-crowned Sparrow (6), Dark-eyed Junco (19)

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (8), Western Meadowlark (2), Brewer's Blackbird (25)

FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: House Finch (7), House Sparrow (2)

Silvana Roads

December 17, 2019

51 Species (Approx. Qty.)

Attendees: Jim, Virginia, Joannie, Diana, Art, Carlos, Val, Judy, Phil, Craig, Susan, Melinda, Ken, Rex, Bev, Rick, Sue, Charlotte, Scott, Pam, John, Wilma, Graham, Valerie and Deb

CHECKLIST:

WATERFOWL: Snow Goose (10 K), Canada Goose (6), Trumpeter Swan (80), Gadwall (6), Eurasian Wigeon (1), American Wigeon (150), Mallard (165), Northern Shoveler (75), Green-winged Teal (6), Northern Pintail (60), Ring-necked Duck (10), Greater Scaup (6), Lesser Scaup (2), Bufflehead (4), Common Goldeneye (1), Ruddy Duck (250)

LOONS, GREBES: Common Loon (1)

PELICANS, HERONS, IBIS: Double-crested Cormorant (5), American Bittern (1), Great Blue Heron (6)

RAPTORS: Bald Eagle (9), Northern Harrier (3), Red-tailed Hawk (9), American Kestrel (5)

SHOREBIRDS: Killdeer (8), Greater Yellowlegs (1), Dunlin (6), Long-billed Dowitcher (5)

GULLS: Mew (103), Ring-billed (101), Glaucous-winged (20)

DOVES, PIGEONS: Rock Pigeon (100), Eurasian Collared-Dove (9), Mourning Dove (2)

WOODPECKERS: Northern Flicker (5)

CORVIDS: Steller's Jay (1), American Crow (8), Common Raven (35)

CHICKADEES, BUSHTIT: Black-capped (11)

NUTHATCHES, CREEPER: Brown Creeper (1)

THRUSHES: American Robin (10)

STARLING: European Starling (1660)

SPARROW, TANAGERS: Spotted Towhee (5), Song Sparrow (10), White-crowned Sparrow (27), Golden-crowned Sparrow (3), Dark-eyed Junco (35)

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES: Red-winged Blackbird (200), Brewer's Blackbird (60),

FINCHES, WEAVER FINCH: Pine Siskin (n/a), House Sparrow (4)