The forecast showers did not make an appearance and even the sun appeared for a while. Seven birders joined co-leaders Sarah-Jane and Neill and right off we were serenaded by a Red-breasted Nuthatch that called down from the cedars by the parking lot. This bird refused to show itself so we set off into the park. As we came to the lawn bowling pitch, an American Robin sat up on a bare tree eating berries and was soon joined by…
The First Rule of Birding (okay, my rule but…) is bird the parking lot. After signing in, the 20 of us moved to the edge of the parking lot, and found Red-winged Blackbirds, Spotted Towhees, Golden-crowned Sparrows, American Robins, and European Starlings. We were hoping for some Brewer’s Blackbirds as they are usually around, but not today. Along the trail from the parking lot, a Northern Shrike was spotted in a shrub near the beach. A Northern Flicker showed nicely…
With rain threatening, 17 people joined us for a morning bird walk at Everett Crowley Park. After an introduction to a little of the history of the park, we did a go-around of introductions, and learned this was a first bird walk for several folks. Heading off into the park, the first birds we encountered right near the start were Black-capped Chickadees. The flock also included some Golden-crowned Kinglets. All the birds were up high in the trees giving our…
With rain threatening, four intrepid birders joined us at Reifel for a morning outing. Three Sandhill Cranes greeted us right by the entrance office along with several Anna’s Hummingbirds flitting about the feeders. Sandhill Cranes Stopping by the house pond we observed Gadwalls, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, Ring-necked Ducks and of course Mallards. Moving along, an expected Black-crowned Night Heron was snoozing in its usual hang out while many House Sparrows hopped around the path and feeders. Passing Fuller Slough,…
A cool bright morning greeted us at our meeting spot at Terra Nova in Richmond. One of the first birds we found was a Band-tailed Pigeon at the top of a conifer beside the parking lot, reinforcing the first rule of birding: bird the parking lot. As we headed out, a Northern Harrier was seen soaring fairly high overhead. We headed to the pond and found two Mallards and a Gadwall, as well as a Pied–billed Grebe. Looking to the…
A cloudy, cool morning with a bit of a breeze greeted us at the parking lot. As we set off, right at the trailhead we were treated to two adult Cooper’s Hawks in a snag. They then flew about for a few minutes before disappearing into the forest. We set out and were accompanied by Chestnut-backed Chickadees as we headed towards Yew Lake. Stopping to check out plants along the way, we noted Bunchberry berries, Copperbush berries, Pearly Everlasting in…
There were surprisingly few insects as we headed out on the trail and came across some Fireweed, Deer Cabbage and Copperbush right at the start of the path. A Townsend’s Warbler was spotted and then chickadees of both species, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed, soon appeared. A little way further along we came across four Olive-sided Flycatchers, possibly a family group. While we were watching these birds, four juvenile Red-breasted Sapsuckers were spotted in the snag next to one of the flycatchers….
Just around sunrise, six people joined the walk co-leaders Ly and Neill to listen to the dawn chorus on the edge of the woods at the 62nd Avenue entrance to Everett Crowley Park. For about 20 minutes we listened to American Robins, Song Sparrows and a strident Spotted Towhee singing close by for all they were worth. Distant Swainson’s Thrushes could also be heard. By only 5:30 the intensity of song had diminished significantly. At this point Ly did an…