North Cascades Audubon Society (Bellingham)
Selections from the Birding Sightings
Archives
New 10/2!
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July
- 7/20/03
Mt. Baker, Heliotrope Ridge Trail
- Haunting,
single-note calls of Varied Thrushes, distant drumming of woodpeckers,
and the occasional Gray Jay.
- 15
mountain goats grazing on the southern flank of Chowder Ridge
- 7/27/03
Mount Baker
- Lake
Ann Trail - couple dozen Dark-eyed Juncos, numerous Hermit Thrushes; and
one Red-breasted Nuthatch.
- 4
juvenile Common Goldeneyes on a pond at Mt. Baker Ski Area.
- On
the second stage of our Black Swift survey, we hit the jackpot at Wells Creek
Falls where we observed 8 Black Swifts and as many as 24 Vaux's Swifts
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August
- 8/6/03
Cruise through the inland waters to Smith Island
- More
than 250 Red-necked Phalaropes, along with 7 Tufted Puffins, 6 Red-necked
Grebes, over 100 Surf Scoters, as many as 10 White-winged Scoters, a few
Pacific Loons, and the "usual contingent of alcids and gulls."
- 8/23/03
Wells Creek Falls
- On
the final day of our Black Swift survey in the Wells Creek Falls area, we
observed swarms of swifts just before dusk. We counted over 50 Vaux's and
12 Black Swifts. The aerobatics were spectacular to watch and Mt. Baker provided
an incredible, yet distracting backdrop with the setting sun illuminating
the glacier-clad north face.
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September
- 9/21/03
North Cascades, East Slope
Highlights from our annual fall trip to the east side of the mountains
included:
- 500+
California Quail at Alta Lake State Park;
- Resplendent
male Mountain Bluebird north of Winthrop; and
- Whining/calling
Great Horned owlets in the Methow Wildlife Area.
- 9/29/03
Blaine, Marine Park
This morning's high tide flooded the area below Marine Park and impressive
numbers of waterfowl were present.
- As
I stepped out of the truck 2,000+ ducks leaped into the air as an adult Bald
Eagle made a low pass above the mouth of the creek.
- Close
in, the flocks consisted of Northern Pintails, Mallards, Green-winged Teal,
American Wigeons, and 2 Eurasian Wigeons.
- In
the deeper water near the end of Marine Drive were Common Loons, Red-necked
and Horned Grebes, and Double-crested Cormorants.
- Farther
out toward White Rock were large rafts of Surf Scoters. It appears that
our winter birds are arriving on schedule.
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October
- 10/10/03
Blaine, Marine Park
- I observed
an adult Peregrine Falcon as it flew in low above Marine Drive and then perched
atop the totem in Marine Park in Blaine this morning.
- Good
numbers of ducks, including Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintails, American
Wigeons, and the rare Mallards, were gathered at the mouth of Cain Creek.
- Small
flocks of Black-bellied Plovers were feeding along the water's edge as the
tide fell.
- Ring-billed,
Mew, Bonaparte's, and Glaucous-winged Gulls soared on the breeze
- Common
Loons, Red-necked and Horned Grebes, and Surf Scoters explored the underwater
world.
- 10/12/03
Lummi Bay
- Phil
reported observing Black Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers, and Killdeer,
along with loons, gulls, and ducks, including one adult male Harlequin.
- 10/15/03
Blaine, Marine Park
At high tide this morning, the winds of October had calmed considerably on
the protected waters of Semiahmoo and Birch Bays.
- About
3,000 ducks were resting in the nearshore areas of Marine Park. The majority
of the birds were Northern Pintails with American Wigeons a close second.
- Among
the rafts were a half dozen Eurasian Wigeons and lesser numbers of Green-winged
Teal.
- At Birch
Bay, the high tide brought flocks of more than 4,000 birds very close to
the main drag. Again, pintails were the most numerous and Surf Scoters were
also present in good numbers. At times, the water was literally covered with
birds and more were winging in constantly.
- In a
roadside ditch on the north end of the Birch Bay State Park, I observed 4
Long-billed Dowitchers.
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November
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December
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