Tuesday bird walk, October 28, 2008

Surf Scoter: Ralph Hocken Photo.


The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach.

Seventeen birders saw and heard thirty-nine species of birds during a beautiful sunny fall morning.

Among the highlights of the morning were the sightings of one Long-tailed Duck, a large raft of Surf Scoters and White-wing Scoters and several Black Scoters who entertained us with their singing throughout the morning. We spotted a Merlin chasing some song birds and a Cooper's Hawk put in a brief appearance. Several Pacific Loons, still in breeding plumage, with gorgeous silver necks and heads, were bobbing in the water. Four Dunlin, two Black-bellied Plovers, several Black Oystercatchers and a Killdeer were seen near the gravel bar. Large flocks of Harlequin Ducks flew past us and landed on the water within our viewing range.

Seventeen birders found the following thirty-nine species of birds on October 28, 2008:
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Cooper's Hawk
Merlin
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Dunlin
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Thayer's Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Brewer's Blackbird
House Finch