Todays Wanderings and Florida trip beginnings

Spring is truly in the air here. The black cottonwood perfume permeates the air. Red-flowering currants brighten the forest understory with their shades of pink. Fresh bright greens are popping out everywhere. and I planted the first of the greens for eating in my little raised bed- 2 kale types, 2 lettuce types. shallots, and shelling peas. My body is quite tired as I also planted other plants around the yard and moved 15 bags of compost around to reclaim an area around the bed so I can build another one and maybe erect a small greenhouse. Whew am I out of shape!

I also made a quick trip to the WDFW wildlife area on Eide Road. Probably the last snowy owl of the season was there. I also saw several northern harriers, a rough-legged hawk, lots of great blue herons and green-winged teal. Oh and these guys checking out a hole in an old piling.

tree swallows

The view today was spectacular.

So the week of March 15-25 I was mostly enjoying a bucket list trip to Florida. What an amazing place! Here's our itinerary-
March 15 fly, stay in a really crappy Travelodge near the Orlando airport.
March 16 Travel to Titusville and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
March 17 Merritt Island NWR and Canaveral National Seashore (Atlantic Ocean)
March 18 Blue Springs State Park and a long drive south to Homestead Florida
March 19 Everglades National Park- the road to Flamingo
March 20 Everglades NP and Big Cypress National Preserve
March 21 Ding Darling NWR and Sanibel/Captiva Islands (Gulf of Mexico)
March 22 Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
March 23 Gatorland! And pack
March 24-25 Travel- It took me 2 days to get home due to a tornado at the Orlando airport! I've never been so thankful and happy to be home.



Merritt Island waters

At the Travelodge Motel as we were leaving i did see my first new bird flitting in a tree. The first of many Palm Warblers. We saw Ronald McDonald's sister enter a McDonald's drive through and laughed our way to our motel in Titusville. Merritt Island NWR was a great place to start the trip. I saw my first alligators, armadillo, and a myriad of bird species. I have a new favorite bird- the reddish egret. Most egrets and herons slowly stalk their food, maybe tap their foot in the water or use their wings to cover the water and attract their little fishy prey. Not the reddish egret. They dance! It's the craziest loveliest funniest thing I've seen in real life. (I've watched a lot of nature shows) I can't describe it. Go to YouTube and look for a video of it. It is a marvelous combination of wins up, wings over, head cocked one way, then the other, move sideways, run fast straight, and on and on. here are a couple of photos of this amazing bird.

I saw my first alligator in the wild and here it is-

As the trip progressed I got much better and closer photos. here's one that's quite impressive from Gatorland (and the boardwalk above them)-

Enough for now. There are plenty more stories to tell just of the nature variety without even going into the travel to and from Florida and within Florida.

Florida is a land of contrasts and beauty not seen in other parts of our country. May we protect what's left because much has already been lost.

The Day of Brighid part 2

Short eared owl attacking rough legged hawk. See second set of wings, tail, and talons.
 

My favorite show of winter in the Samish and Skagit Flats are the raptors. This area has one of the highest (if not the highest) concentration of wintering raptors in the west and possibly the US. They're here for the vast numbers of voles, round tubular mouse-looking critters with a short stubby tail and two small ears set above tiny bead-size eyes. They tunnel through the tall grasses munching on the vegetation. Some of the raptors are also after the numerous wintering shorebirds, ducks, and snow geese. I've seen peregrine falcons nail a duck in flight, feathers flying everywhere and chase shorebirds at amazing  and flight moves.

 

Peregrine falcon preening in the sunlight

 

I've watched northern harriers eating a snow goose, although generally they're after the rodents. They fly low and and steady over the fields looking for their next meal. The snow goose was likely an injured bird making it easy pickins'. The male northern harrier is one of the more striking birds as he glides over the marshes (hence their former name marsh hawk). When seen close up the silver feathers blend delicately with browns and blacks. Like the female he has the patch of white at the base of the tail. He's 1/3 smaller than the female the same as all raptors and is more challenging to find than the females. Most of the harriers are the reddish brown of the juveniles and adult females. Still lovely, still owl-like  in their flight and facial disk.That facial disk is the same as an owls, focusing the raspy sounds of rodents in the grass into their hidden ears behind the disc feathers. The fortunate people are those who get to watch both the harrier and the short-eared owl cruising over the same fields. The owls and their butterfly flight and the harrier with its more directed flight pattern. They often battle over their area like siblings battling over a toy. Both are colorful when seen up close.



Northern harrier perched and landing on branch

 

Bald eagles aren't just about salmon. They'll take ducks and geese as well as sit in a field looking for rodents. Merlins, gyrfalcons, prairie falcons, and kestrels are all possibilities in winter. The gyr and prairie falcon being exceedingly rare and very exciting to see. Red-tailed hawks are a given with increased numbers and morphs during the winter months. Fenceposts, telephone poles and wires, and trees all hold the football-shaped silhouette of a red.

Rough-legged hawk landing on branch and one sitting on pole.

 





Rough-legged hawks come down from the north every winter, sometimes in large numbers and other years few are here. Unlike snowy owls it's almost guaranteed one will be seen during the winter without too much work. More delicate-looking and colorful than red-tails thay can be seen hovering over a grassy field hunting rodents.

 

Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks tend to eat birds and can be found perched in the tall cottonwoods and alders along the waterways and dikes. Forest hawks, their short broad wings and long tails help them maneuver quickly through the trees.

 

Any and all of these raptors can be seen perched in a variety of places. Learning their differing silhouettes and flight style make identifying them much easier. Around here, it's smart to check out the Falcon Research Group and Bud Anderson's classes. This winter has been a gift not long forgotten with the numerous close encounters with the short-eared owls. Last year was the year of the snowy owl, this year is for the short-eared owls. Every winter is a new adventure, wandering the river flats to spy what raptor has returned to spend their winter with us.

 

And here's a bonus northern shrike.

 

 

In the meantime, it's March and here's a great description of this wild and crazy month.

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:when it is summer in the light, and winter is in the shade."

Charles Dickens

 



The Day of Brighid and Spring Part 1

Sadly, this post is a bit late. Brighid was February 2. Better late than never.

My favorite day of the year dawned cloudy and a bit foggy. The chickadees argue over the last little chunk of suet placed in the feeder last weekend. Buds on the salmonberry are bulging while beaked hazelnut catkins have already emerged. Song sparrows trill their various songs announcing the lengthening of the days. To celebrate the day I packed up my camera gear, binocs, water, tea, and snacks and head north to search out the activity of the numerous wintering raptors. they'll be here for another month with a few staying onto March. Many return to northern climes while others disperse to their nesting areas here or places I know not where. Most of the local bald eagles and red-tail hawks are courting or on nests now. I wonder where all the short-eared owls came from and where they'll go when they decide to leave.

The snow geese and swans will be around for awhile, too. Once hunting is over the snow geese are even more visible. they join in huge flocks of 1000s moving through fields feeding like flowing water. In constant motion with their distinctive high honk always on. In contrast the trumpeter swans (tundra, too) join together in much smaller flocks, sometimes only one or two family group, usually not more than a few hundred. They tend to be much quieter and still. They wander around a field or gracefully glide on the water. They often call when they fly betraying the reason they are called trumpeters (tundra swans used to be called whistling swans for the same reason). Long necks and powerful bright white wings, these large birds are hard to mistake against any color of sky.

The geese and swans are the returning swallows of the winter. The fields of white and their the calls fill the heart with warmth to enjoy the winter months.

A Day Birding in the Fog

Snow geese after a quick Adobe "fix"

before the fix-note the fog

Monday I couldn't take it anymore; I had to get out. The week of thick fog nearly all day every day was taking its toll. I needed to go in search of the large numbers of raptors wintering in our river flats (Stillaguamish, Skagit, and Samish- areas near and at the mouths of the rivers). It still hadn't burned off by noon but I packed up the binoculars and camera gear, a couple of snacks, water, and some tea and off I went- in search of clarity. I didn't find it until 2:30 in the Samish Flats.

In the meantime, I could see the 1000s of snow geese and various other birds if I was close enough. Raptors were out all over- American kestrels, red-tailed hawks, rough-legged hawks and bald eagles. I didn't find any accipiters or falcons. Mostly because there was just no seeing into the distance and even if you could make out a lump in the trees it was difficult to see any color.

Samish Flats- two areas known as the West 90 and the East 90. I've been birding since 1980 (although much more sporadically in the last 15 years). I generally make a trip to the Skagit and Samish flats at least once during the winter months. This day was one of the most spectacular I have experienced (except maybe for the 5 falcon days). At East 90 in the westerly fields there was literally a raptor on every shrub and in every tree, perched on fence posts and signs, and sitting on the ground. Rough-legged hawks, ravens, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, and best of all tons of short-eared owls. After counting around 30 I gave up. I'd read accounts of folks seeing 54+!

I saw more in the 2 hours of clearing in this area than I've seen in my life. Everywhere you could hear their raspy bark and various other calls. Then there was the clump of cottonwoods or red alder near the Samish River- full of 20+ bald eagles. The immature ones were flying close to my truck and all over the place chasing each other and pissing off the adults.

 I decided to go check out the West 90 which is generally the better spot but it was quiet close in. Farther out there was plenty of action. I didn't stray from the parking lot as I wasn't prepared to go for a hike. next time I will. Northern harriers came in close. A short-eared owl did, too but I didn't want to disturb it. They really didn't seem the least bit disturbed by the attention, though.

northern harrier

For such a short trip it was absolutely fantastic. I found myself spellbound by the activity and numbers of birds. Getting a photo was just the cherry on top. I'm so grateful to have been there at the right time. No- I didn't find the immature gyrfalcon or long-eared owl, yet I came away with an experience of the impelling spell of raptors in winter on the Samish Flats. And my spirits had lifted even as the thick fog rolled back in.

adult and juvenile snow geese amongst the 1000s

Bald eagles of Harrison Mills B.C.

On the last day of the year my friends, Paul and Lisa, and I went back up to British Columbia to try our luck at seeing the thousands of bald eagles that flock to the Fraser, Harrison, and Chehalis Rivers each winter. Last year we saw 300+ which was exciting. This year we saw 100. Disappointing in numbers yet exciting in close up encounters with several eagles and trumpeter swans.

The locals told us we were 3 weeks late. Back then 6,000 bald eagles were at the Chehalis River "estuary". The trail starts in the Eagle Point development next to the golf course. Yes, the habitat of one of the   largest (if not the largest) concentrations of eagles in North America has been developed. At least they didn't destroy the estuary and left a few trails for people to access the feeding areas. Unfortunately, it seems everyone in the development has a dog, many of them small, which means eagle bait. We were told that two cougars had been killed this past year because they were threatening people. I doubt they were threatening people, more likely they ate a small dog and the people who moved into their territory are afraid. Dropping housing developments into the middle of a rural area full of wildlife such as coyotes, bears, and cougars is just plain irresponsible.

Off the soap box. We explored different side roads along the waterways and found one with a number of trumpeter swans and other waterfowl feeding including pied-billed grebes, buffleheads, hooded mergansers, common mergansers, mallards, gadwalls, American wigeons, ring-necked ducks, Canada geese, and some double-crested cormorants. I was pleased with all of the hooded mergansers, although I never did get a great photo of one. I enjoy their feather crests and their antics when competing for females.

juvenile

We saw an exquisite pair of anatum peregrine falcons perched in a large deciduous tree in a field. I'm still working on those photos. The lighting was not the best. Once I get them looking better I'll post them. In the meantime I thought I'd share several eagle photos here.

immature

The end of the trip was spent taking a short hike to Bridal Veil Falls. There was a small amount of snow on the ground and it was definitely chilly out. The hike is a gentle uphill walk (boy am I out of shape) of about 1/4 mile, unless you include walking the road which is probably another 1/4 mile. What a magical waterfall that's so easily accessible! A great finale to a great day with friends.

Bridal Veil Falls

Frozen water drops over the stream

Saturday Stanwood Rambling

the white bucket snowy owl

 

 

A couple of Saturdays ago I needed to get out for awhile so I headed to nearby Stanwood. The day was gray, cold, and showery. I stopped at Eide road just as a short downpour hit. I left the camera behind and went for a short walk. It was bird quiet but the pop pop of gunshots were enough to make you jump. They get tiresome quite quickly. The song sparrows were active and a rough-legged hawk was wandering around. The best part of leaving the camera behind is you get close to birds and miss great shots! What a lovely view of the hawk. There were some northern harriers hunting over the fields and hunters wandering in the same areas. I decided to move on.

 

I cruised down Thomle Road and saw two white buckets at the base of groups of white poles. They turned out to be snowy owls. I don't know how those folks get the close-up looks and photos of them. I haven't had that luck. Nice to see them, though. Not much else going on so I moved on.

 

Boe Road held lots of snow goose hunters and snow geese hanging out where they can't be shot. Such remarkable birds- tiny brains yet intelligent enough to fly high enough and roost far enough away that no gunshot can hit them. Since one can't trespass on Nature Conservancy property I stayed in the truck. I noticed three bald eagles flying low over the field at the end of the road and figured they had food somewhere. I drove to the end of the road and one of them landed on a power pole. A birder stopped to tell me that they had killed a duck, went to the pole to eat it, and it fell to the ground. That explains the intent looking down.

 

 

This is an "osprey-phase" bald eagle, nearly an adult. Notice the dark line through the eye, like an osprey. Next year that extra black will disappear and the bird will have full adult plumage.

I decided to take the long way back so I took Norman Road. I found this red-tailed hawk sitting in a field next to the road. Probably just caught a vole in the field or was thinking about why it just missed one! One of my favorite birds because I can nearly always count on seeing one every day of the year.

Wandering along the road I found a few small flocks of trumpeter swans. Iwish I could get a photo of them in something besides muddy fields. However, it's just great to see them around in recovered numbers (as long as we continue to ban lead shot.)

The Solstice has passed and we enter a time of returning light. May your days be blessed with the light of love, peace, and wildlife aplenty. Mitakyosin

Short Bird Day

very blurry snowy owl
 

I had to get out this weekend so I spent a little time on Eide Rd., Thomle Rd., and Boe Rd. around Stanwood looking for critters and practicing some more with my big lens. Snowy owls need to be closer for a decent photo with my 500mm lens. It was great to see them, though. I saw 3 or 4 just hanging out which they seem to do a lot- sit and watch. These were all  perched on the ground. Often they sit on buildings, fenceposts, large pieces of driftwood, farm equipment, and sometimes trees. Generally, these perches are in open areas- mudflats, pastures, etc. Being birds of the arctic it makes sense. Great birds. It's always a gift when the juveniles move down here every few years to spend the winter with us.

 



dunlin roosting in plowed field



 Along Boe Rd. I saw a bunch of little light spots running all over a plowed field. There were taller birds with them. The predictable dunlin and black-bellied plovers were taking advantage of the dirt field feeding on invertebrates of all sorts. They flew up with the large flock of red-winged blackbirds, never tightening into the tight twisting flash when being hunted by a merlin. Falcons are around but I wasn't there long enough to see any. My experience over the years I have almost always seen black-bellied plovers hanging around the larger flocks of dunlin. Unfortunately, I didn't think to look through the flock for the wayward golden plover. Next time.

killdeer and black-bellied plover hanging together

Towards the end of my short adventure I found a bunch of killdeer just sitting in the field together looking around and not doing anything. I found the above two birds sitting together at the end of the field. It was later in the day so I guess they were roosting together. I haven't seen killdeer and plovers hanging out so this was a new encounter and they posed for me! All in all a decent couple of hours even if I didn't get the big list of raptors folks have been seeing out here. Next adventure Harrison River for the thousands of bald eagles!

A day birding the Flats

My first day out birding the Skagit and Samish Flats this Autumn. It was a perfect day for wandering around and looking for raptors- extremely cold and crystal clear skies. It also gave me a chance to practice with my long lens.The biting wind penetrated my clothes and stiffened my hands.  Guess I've been lulled by the warmer than usual temperatures we've had lately. I found swans, snow geese, red-tailed hawks, lots of rough-legged hawks and northern harriers, bald eagles, plenty of great blue herons, a huge flock of dunlin with the requisite black-bellied plovers and northern shrikes. No falcons or short-eared owls this trip.

I spent much of my time at the West 90 on the Samish Flats. This area is well known for the abundance of raptors because of the abundance of voles. I was not disappointed. The northern harriers and rough-legged hawks were numerous and active all around the parking area.

rough-legged hawk just before diving to catch prey

I found it very challenging to follow them with my camera on the tripod. At one point a rough-legged was directly above me, hovering and looking straight down at me. It was a magical moment to be so close and meet glances with this arctic raptor.

rough-legged hawk diving

Both the rough-leggeds and harriers followed the same hunting path making them predictable enough to follow with the camera.  I'm happy for digital cameras as I took a bajillion photos with only a couple that are marginally good. I also discovered my lens needs cleaning. Sheesh! A fellow photographer and birder graciously gave me a few tips on setting up my camera. I need more practice....

dunlin Samish Flats


There was a large flock of dunlin to the north flying tightly together back and forth, turning white then black as they dodged some unseen threat. I had hoped for a falcon with no luck, although I wasn't working hard to find them. Next trip out will be more focused on the birds and not worrying about grocery shopping...

"Delicious Autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking successive autumns."
Georg Eliot