The Clallam County Birding Blog that has been up at this URL is moving to a new location
so open and bookmark this . . .
http://clallamcountybirding.com/wordpress/
and thanks for the few weeks of look-seeing here as the new site was [and still is]
under construction
Denny AFMJ Van Horn
Dungeness, WA
Monday, March 4, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
13th Post 3.1.13
Birds of Note the past few days . . .
- Snow goose / most likely the same bird that's been in the area for weeks; Schmuck road at Hidden Triangle pond; the goose was standing on the pond's brim
- Ruddy duck / two males were on Lake Farm rd pond
- Wild turkey / there is a small flock that has existed along the Dungeness river for years; they habitate from US101 N to Woodcock road. A male answered to a hen's clucking call and then a second male answered; this one was 50m from the first
- Sooty grouse / birds seen on Palo Alto road near MP10 and Deer Park road at about 4,000' elevation
- Turkey vulture / two birds were seen today; one over Diamond Point and a second over the Elwha river
- Rough legged hawk / probably the same hawk that's been seen since 2.19; Schmuck road
- Red knot / it's possible that this is the same bird first seen on Dec 10 [and seen several times since]; observed from Dungeness Landing to E along river's estuary
- Long billed dowitcher / three birds working tide flats E of Dungeness Landing
- Whimbrel / five birds working the tide flats E of Dungeness Landing
- Marbled godwit / four birds were E of Dungeness Landing in the far SE corner of the marsh outlet working the tide flats
- Cassin's auklet / three birds were close in shore at Ediz Hook Strait side [~100m out] N of the Boat House
- Thick billed murre / the Ediz Hook murre was seen ~400m off shore [SE] from the Pilot's House; observed for some 20 minutes before lost to sight behind the Salmon Prison; one lone gull kept it company; there were few Common murre on the harbor
- Herring gull / a single adult was found amongst several hundred Glaucous winged, Olympic, and Mew gulls working the grass fields for tasty morsels W of Schmuck road where liquid manure was being kicked-out by a giant lawn sprinkler
- Orange crowned warbler / singing; Kitchen Dick ponds
- Swamp sparo / still there at Kitchen Dick ponds; east side being shy down in the brambles
- Snow bunting / a lone bird found seed-feeding at the seed-feeding site on Ediz Hook just W of bathrooms; was told that the bunting was first seen on Feb 28 late afternoon
- Bullock's oriole / continues to be seen in the Marine & Thornton area
The 3rd First-of-Month Big Day for the county [east end] was chased today: 1am - 9pm. The chase-route? Blyn / Wood's rd / Palo
Alto rd / Gray Wolf river rd / Eagle creek ponds / Diamond Point / JW Marina / Washington Harbor / Schmuck rd / Port Williams / Jamestown / Seashore rd / Kirner
pond / Dungeness Landing / Cline's Spit / Lamar rd / Hogback rd / Kitchen Dick ponds / Finn
Hall rd / Lake Farm rd pond / N Ennis st [ePA] / Valley Creek Estuary Park / Port of Port
Angeles / Ediz Hook / W 18th st [wPA] / Lower Elwha rd / Deer Park rd / Dungeness / 3 Crabs
marshes / and back to Blyn and Wood's rd. Total species: 144.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
12th Post 2.27.13
Good words by a friend that are just right to share . . .
"Monday, Feb. 25, the western wind was gusting over 45, and a walk through the mountains and farmland fields was peculiarly devoid of birds. They were no doubt seeking shelter wherever they could find some. I did watch 4 Northern Harriers just resting out in the open tucked in the short grass while the gusts blew over the top of them. One male had it's eyes closed. A juvenile flushed as I walked by, battled the turbulent air to stay close to the ground and quickly relit. I could also see movement way back in the hedgerows, but birds were largely no-shows!
Tuesday, Feb. 26, was another matter. The weather was briefly sunny and calm in the morning. The highlight was not seeing a new bird for the year, nor making an unusual observation: it was simply coming upon the flock of Western Meadowlarks on Schmuck Road. There were about a dozen next to the pavement, so I stopped the car and eased out. One was taking a bath in one of the plentiful puddles. Four were on the nearby power lines, others on fence wires and an old corral, yet more in the surrounding fields. Immediately, I was enveloped by a symphony of song, including several in total meadowlark melody, some accenting with loud call notes, and others giving distinctly strange chords as if they wanted to participate, but were very rusty from lack of practice. The effort was a supreme contribution to an early Spring morn, and made me appreciate why I take the time to get into the habitat each day to look and listen. The world is full of beauty for those who take the time to appreciate it, and I would place a singing Feb. flock of meadowlarks right up there at the top!" [Bruce Paige]
"Monday, Feb. 25, the western wind was gusting over 45, and a walk through the mountains and farmland fields was peculiarly devoid of birds. They were no doubt seeking shelter wherever they could find some. I did watch 4 Northern Harriers just resting out in the open tucked in the short grass while the gusts blew over the top of them. One male had it's eyes closed. A juvenile flushed as I walked by, battled the turbulent air to stay close to the ground and quickly relit. I could also see movement way back in the hedgerows, but birds were largely no-shows!
Tuesday, Feb. 26, was another matter. The weather was briefly sunny and calm in the morning. The highlight was not seeing a new bird for the year, nor making an unusual observation: it was simply coming upon the flock of Western Meadowlarks on Schmuck Road. There were about a dozen next to the pavement, so I stopped the car and eased out. One was taking a bath in one of the plentiful puddles. Four were on the nearby power lines, others on fence wires and an old corral, yet more in the surrounding fields. Immediately, I was enveloped by a symphony of song, including several in total meadowlark melody, some accenting with loud call notes, and others giving distinctly strange chords as if they wanted to participate, but were very rusty from lack of practice. The effort was a supreme contribution to an early Spring morn, and made me appreciate why I take the time to get into the habitat each day to look and listen. The world is full of beauty for those who take the time to appreciate it, and I would place a singing Feb. flock of meadowlarks right up there at the top!" [Bruce Paige]
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
11th Post 2.26.13
Birds of note since the 22nd . . .
- White throated sparo / three birds continue at feeders: one each at Clallam Bay, Jamestown, and Dungeness; birds are white-stripe with bright yellow lores
- Yellow headed blackbird / weeks early, a single bird was heard giving it's raucous call from the cattails between Helen's pond and the Pumphouse on 3 Crabs road
- Green heron / a single bird was seen flying over the slough-marsh along Backtrack road in Neah Bay
- Kestrel / a male was wire-sitting close to Old Olympic hwy on Towne rd
- Yellow shafted flicker / described just as older field guides note when it was recognized as a separate species - red nape, black malar, with brightish yellow under-wings and tail - the flicker was seen at a feeder in Sequim
- Black crowned night heron / both the adult and juvy were seen at their Dungeness roost on the 23rd even tho the wind was blowing a Bf5; this is the first time the juvy [Windy] has been seen with the adult [Gale] in several weeks
- Bullock's oriole / the Marine & Thornton bird continues to show up sporadically
Birds not seen since the 22nd . . .
- Gibson Spit Burrowing owl
- Dungeness Rec Area Long eared owl
- Schmuck rd Rough legged hawk
Friday, February 22, 2013
Tenth Post 2.22.13
Ten Owls in 24 Hours!
Thurs Feb 21
Snowy - 3 Crabs road 4:15pm
Short eared - Dungeness Rec Area 5:30
Long eared - DRA 5:30
Barred - Ward at Woodcock road 6:10
Barn - Towne road 6:25
Great horned - Dungeness Village 6:40
Western Screech - Holland road dip at Graysmarsh 9:05
Northern Saw whet - Wood road MP3.4 10:15
Fri Feb 22
Northern Pygmy - Palo Alto road MP9.5 6am
Burrowing - Gibson Point 8:30am
The Snowy was perched on a roof peak on N side of 3 Crabs road near Pettitt road. The Short ear came up from heavy orchard grass and, as it began hunting flight, was immediately intercepted by the Long eared flying in from the E. They sparred for a few seconds, parted, and went separate ways [40 yards distance]. The Long ear is [probably] the same owl first seen on Jan 26 by Ryan Merrill and several others since. The Barred was called out from woods along the river at Ward and Woodcock road. The Barn was perched on a fence post along Towne road. The Great horned is the male who's been calling along the river in Dungeness for weeks. The Screech was called out from the woods along the dip on Holland road at Graysmarsh. The Saw whet consistently found along Wood road took several trys and some time, but finally answered. As the sky lightened two Pygmys answered to calling back in the forests along Palo Alto road. And the dawn walk on Gibson Spit was rewarded with the Burrowing owl standing on a log not far from it's burrow. Thanks to Michael Barry and Bruce Paige for the re-seeing of the Burrowing owl, cuz it was this find along with seeing the Long ear that gave the reality of 10 Owls in a Day a chance of happening.
Where else but Clallam County could one encounter 10 owl species in a single chunk of time and have the luck of two code 5s giving the final say to the venture.
Thurs Feb 21
Snowy - 3 Crabs road 4:15pm
Short eared - Dungeness Rec Area 5:30
Long eared - DRA 5:30
Barred - Ward at Woodcock road 6:10
Barn - Towne road 6:25
Great horned - Dungeness Village 6:40
Western Screech - Holland road dip at Graysmarsh 9:05
Northern Saw whet - Wood road MP3.4 10:15
Fri Feb 22
Northern Pygmy - Palo Alto road MP9.5 6am
Burrowing - Gibson Point 8:30am
The Snowy was perched on a roof peak on N side of 3 Crabs road near Pettitt road. The Short ear came up from heavy orchard grass and, as it began hunting flight, was immediately intercepted by the Long eared flying in from the E. They sparred for a few seconds, parted, and went separate ways [40 yards distance]. The Long ear is [probably] the same owl first seen on Jan 26 by Ryan Merrill and several others since. The Barred was called out from woods along the river at Ward and Woodcock road. The Barn was perched on a fence post along Towne road. The Great horned is the male who's been calling along the river in Dungeness for weeks. The Screech was called out from the woods along the dip on Holland road at Graysmarsh. The Saw whet consistently found along Wood road took several trys and some time, but finally answered. As the sky lightened two Pygmys answered to calling back in the forests along Palo Alto road. And the dawn walk on Gibson Spit was rewarded with the Burrowing owl standing on a log not far from it's burrow. Thanks to Michael Barry and Bruce Paige for the re-seeing of the Burrowing owl, cuz it was this find along with seeing the Long ear that gave the reality of 10 Owls in a Day a chance of happening.
Where else but Clallam County could one encounter 10 owl species in a single chunk of time and have the luck of two code 5s giving the final say to the venture.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Ninth Post 2.21.13
Good Birds in Clallam County still present on this date . . .
Code 5
. . . when you only get 48 seconds before the bird is gone, you shoot, then worry about quality!
Code 5
- Black crowned night heron / Dungeness
- Burrowing owl / Sequim Bay area
- Thick billed murre / Port Angeles harbor
- Iceland gull / La Push harbor
- Long eared owl / Dungeness Rec Area
- Snow goose / Schmuck rd
- Tundra Whistling swan / 3 Crabs marsh
- Redhead / Golden Sands blvd sloughs
- Swamp Sparo / Kitchen Dick ponds & 3 Crabs marsh
- Common redpoll / Dungeness
- White throated sparo / Jamestown & Dungeness
- Ruddy duck / Kitchen Dick ponds
- Marbled godwit / Graveyard Spit
- Rock sandpiper / Ediz Hook
- Herring gull / Ediz Hook
- Barred owl / many locations
- Bullock's oriole / Marine & Thornton rd
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Eighth Post 2.19.13
Rough legged hawk - a single bird was seen hunting fields W of Schmuck road at dusk [~5:30]. The hawk worked the heavy orchard grass fields, then hunted the brambles running W to E on Dairy View lane [a dirt track]. It passed over the road and continued on E where it encountered a female Harrier; they did an aerial dance for a few seconds before separating - each continuing to hunt in opposite directions. This is the 3ed reported sighting of RLH in the county this winter.
Snowy owl - at the intersection of Schmuck and Port Williams an owl flew from the N over the the house on the corner and continued S down Schmuck road where it took perch on top of telephone pole. The bird was a heavily barred individual.
Snowy owl - on 3 Crabs at the Pumphouse an owl flew up from the ground, circled out over cattails and then landed on the S corner of the Pumphouse. This is probably the same owl that's been in this area all winter.
Guinea fowl - a full plummed Guinea fowl was found standing along the edge of Coulter road off Schmuck road at the turn-around to Sequim Valley Ranch. The bird eventually took off running, gaining air in a massive short-winged flapping venture flying 20m before lighting and running further E where Coulter turns to dirt. This was just odd! I've not seen a Guinea fowl loose in the county. Maybe we should add it to the checklist? Code 5+?
Kestrel - two of these falcons were seen today: the Hogback road male, back for it's 3rd winter, was on wire above dry lake bed; this is a banded bird. The second was seen on wire along Old Olympic hiway where McDonald creek passes under.
Bullock's oriole - continues: Day 12
Western meadowlark - a small flock of meadowlarks works the fields E and W of Schmuck road near the hay barn in winter. On the 17th there were 19 seen in the area with two singing their songs and several others trying out parts of meadowlark talk.
Snowy owl - at the intersection of Schmuck and Port Williams an owl flew from the N over the the house on the corner and continued S down Schmuck road where it took perch on top of telephone pole. The bird was a heavily barred individual.
Snowy owl - on 3 Crabs at the Pumphouse an owl flew up from the ground, circled out over cattails and then landed on the S corner of the Pumphouse. This is probably the same owl that's been in this area all winter.
Guinea fowl - a full plummed Guinea fowl was found standing along the edge of Coulter road off Schmuck road at the turn-around to Sequim Valley Ranch. The bird eventually took off running, gaining air in a massive short-winged flapping venture flying 20m before lighting and running further E where Coulter turns to dirt. This was just odd! I've not seen a Guinea fowl loose in the county. Maybe we should add it to the checklist? Code 5+?
Kestrel - two of these falcons were seen today: the Hogback road male, back for it's 3rd winter, was on wire above dry lake bed; this is a banded bird. The second was seen on wire along Old Olympic hiway where McDonald creek passes under.
Bullock's oriole - continues: Day 12
Western meadowlark - a small flock of meadowlarks works the fields E and W of Schmuck road near the hay barn in winter. On the 17th there were 19 seen in the area with two singing their songs and several others trying out parts of meadowlark talk.
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