Ring-billed Gull‏ Joe Meche 10/13/13

We've made it through the dog days of birding and things are certain to pick up as winter approaches. In the meantime, there are birds aplenty to document, like this very cooperative RBGU north of Larrabee SP.







Very nice example of first winter Ring-billed gull

Nancy Downing

ravens over Bellingham‏ Andrew Reding 10/12/13

Five ravens circling over the York neighborhood this morning. I heard them the preceding two days, but today was the first time I actually saw them.

BLACK-NECKED STILT still at White Rock Wayne Weber 10/12/13

Birders,

The BLACK-NECKED STILT, accompanied by the WILLET, was still present along the shoreline of Semiahmoo Bay about 100 metres east of the “white rock” in White Rock from about 9:00 to 9:45 this morning, and posed for photos by several photographers (including yours truly).

This is the fourth consecutive day that the Stilt has been present at this locality. It is highly unusual for this species to show upon a saltwater shoreline. This is also the first-ever October record for this species in the Vancouver area; nearly all previous records have been in late April and May.

Fascinating!‏ Suzetta 10/10/13

This is just incredible to see how this hawk gets through a hole, man made in this case but to simulate flying through the forest.

A Hawk at 40X Camera Speed... Ever wonder how a hawk with a huge wing span can fly through the forest without hitting the trees?  This is a really cool video that shows how that happens….    http://www.youtube.com/embed/2CFckjfP-1E

White-throated Sparrows‏ Jim Duemmel 10/10/13

I started my sunflower feeder on October 1 - for the upcoming winter. On the 3rd and again today I had visits from a White-throated Sparrow, different individuals judging by their plumages. Could this be, I hope, an omen of a great winter season for this and other unusual sparrows?

Jim Duemmel

snow goose‏ John Gunningham 10/9/13

Quick note to report a juvenile Snow Goose hanging out on Nubgaard Pond in Ferndale.   Trying to stick with a group of Canada Geese but they  don't seem to be feeling the love,  Only other sighting of a snow goose for me at this location was  11/5/2006.

Cheers, John Gunningham

Lapland Longspur Eric Ellingson 10/7/13

I want to thank Phil Calise for spotting this little gem. The postings here, Audubon bird walks and getting to know other birders has really pushed me to pay more attention and learn to spot and ID more birds.

Near the bathrooms today on Semi Spit I spent some time listening and finding the more elusive birds, Bewick’s Wren, Yellow Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Towhee’s, Bushtits galore. Within the past few days aWestern Meadowlark and Hermit Thrush were also in the area. A Northern Harrier also made a brief appearance today. Not a big deal to seasoned birders but to us lessers ... very cool to keep seeing/IDing new species.

Many thanks to the many Whatcom birders who’ve helped me become a better birder.


Eric Ellingson

Gulls feasting on flying insects Joe Meche 10/7/13

We rode our bikes to Boulevard Park this afternoon and witnessed numerous Ring-billed and Mew Gulls coursing up and down the shoreline, apparently feeding on clouds of insects (flying ants?) that we couldn't see. The gulls would at times hover and snatch the treats with a flick of the head, or fly directly into the swarm with mouths agape. It was quite the spectacle, almost like watching nighthawks.

We pedaled home (faster than usual) to grab my camera but by the time I got back to the park, the wind had changed and the gulls/insects were gone.

Joe Meche

Pacific Loons‏ Joe Meche 10/6/13

We had spectacular weather yesterday for the North Cascades Institute's outing, Avifauna Afloat. We saw good birds but the #1 highlight had to be the scores of Pacific Loons we encountered on the west side of Lummi Island. I've seen much larger rafts of loons before but the majority of these were still in breeding plumage. Their pale gray heads/napes were brilliant in contrast to the dark water.

 

Joe Meche

bird mortality Canada‏ Judy Krieger 10/5/13

1 October 2013 – Over the last four years, 20 Environment Canada scientists conducted extensive analyses to produce the first-ever estimates of annual direct bird mortality from human-related sources. Their findings were published this week in Avian Conservation and Ecology, the electronic scientific journal of Bird Studies Canada and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists. The results indicate that human-related activities destroy roughly 269 million birds and 2 million bird nests in Canada each year. 
Most human-related bird deaths (about 99%) are caused by impacts of feral and pet cats, and collisions with transmission lines, buildings, and vehicles. Cats appear to kill as many birds as all other sources combined – more than 100 million birds annually in Canada. Species that nest or feed on or near the ground are especially vulnerable to cat predation. Collisions with electricity transmission and distribution lines have been identified as the second-largest human-caused source of bird mortality in Canada, causing between 10-41 million bird deaths per year. Collisions with residential and commercial buildings are the third-highest of the human-related sectors, killing an estimated 16-42 million birds each year – mostly at houses. 
To learn more, read our post on the BirdLife Community or explore the special issue of Avian Conservation and Ecology.

Longspurs still at Semiahmoo‏ Andrea Warner 10/5/13

This morning at Semiahmoo the Lapland Longspurs were still there. I spotted 3 flying and viewed two of them after they landed. Mitch Blanton then joined me and after I left he saw 7 of them flying. After walking the loop on my way back to my car I also saw 7 of them flying around in the same area (the field north of the tree where the Eagles perch) as we spotted them earlier. They can be illusive as they feed in the heavy grass. The other spotting of note was at least 2 male Black Scoters (scope view) on the Semiahmoo side of the spit. The only shorebirds were 3 Killdeer. The adult Peregrine was on the water tower with a full crop.

And - the hybrid, Greater white-fronted Goose/Canada Goose is once again hanging out with the group at the Padden Estuary and vacant lots. Almost forgot - there is an otter family (2 adults and 4 youngsters)hanging around the estuary at high tide.

Andrea Warner

Snow Geese, Swallows Barry Ulman 10/5/13

Today (10/4) I birded Fir Island. The Snow Geese are here in numbers, many on the water and constant flyovers. There were also a fair number of White-fronted Geese mixed in. 

On the Samish Flats just out of Edison were a mixed flock of Barn Swallows and Violet-green Swallows, maybe 8 or 10 of the latter.

Barry Ulman

Fwd: Attack Owl‏ Tedd Judd 10/4/13

I thought the list would be interested in this exchange from our neighborhood list serve from the Interurban Trail just south of Old Fairhaven Parkway, messages are in reverse order. Same area where there have been many attacks over the years, although I thought they were usually in the spring. 

Tedd Judd

Date: Fri, Oct 4, 2013 at 6:07 AM
Subject: Re: Attack Owl

Yup, the owl swooped close over head, then the next thing I knew my hat was off my head.  It was a little eerie!  That was about 5 years ago.  I hope they put that fleece hat to good use!

 

Jean

Sent: Thursday, October 3, 2013 10:20 PM
Subject: RE: Attack Owl

David Syre, of "Whatcom County is my blank canvas fame". Somehow that is divine justice.
Do you remember a couple of years ago  there was a hat stealing owl, on the interurban. I always thought I would come across this beautiful, colorful, wool-hatted nest. Didn't she get one of your hats Jean?

Subject: Re: Attack Owl

Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2013 22:14:16 -0700

I heard that an owl attacked the owner of the Trillium Corporation while hiking in the Chuckanuts.  This was about 10 years ago.  He was responsible for clear cutting forests all over the world.  I was told by a close friend of his, who didn't know who I was.

On Oct 3, 2013, at 9:39 PM, 

I was riding on the trail a few days ago, and came across a man swinging a tennis racket, (down by the crossing just after the animal hospital). He told me that there had been some recent human-targeting by an owl. Perhaps it is a good time to keep watch on yours, and your friends visiting animals. Pass this on.
Peace,
Lisa

lumni flats‏ Ken Lane 10/4/13

Yesterday afternoon Fanter and I birded lumni flats from 4-6. Not a lot of shorebird activity just a couple of dowitchers. We did find 3 Lapland Longspurs,some pipits, a bittern and a fly over of 12 greater white-fronted geese. Nice to be out in the sun.

Good birding 

Ken Lane

Belted Kingfisher‏ Joe Meche 10/4/13

This is one of the four BEKIs that are regulars at the AK Ferry Terminal. They tend to put on quite a show at times, with their distinctive chatter.

Joe Meche