Wildlife of Edmonds, WA. 2017

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Bill Anderson

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Monday evening (5/22) I checked out two osprey nests in nearby Lynnwood. Both nests were occupied.

First stop was the nest at the south end 48th Av. SW by City Wide Fence. I could hear babies chirping in the nest and the female popped up. The male flew in with a fish, stayed for a few minutes, then left with the fish.
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It ate the fish perched on the nearby family tree, which lost its top this past winter.
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The next stop was the Meadowdale softball complex, where I saw one in the nest at sunset.
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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Some of the lowest tides of the year on Puget Sound occur this week. Around noon Wednesday (5/24) I was photographing Caspian terns diving for fish off Sunset Ave. One caught a fish, lost it, then recovered it in mid-air.

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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Thursday afternoon (5/25) my son and I drove to Sprague Pond in Lynnwood. The gulls raised an uproar as an osprey passed over the pond. This puzzled me, as gulls usually don't get upset by osprey.
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I was looking at the wrong osprey. East of the pond an eagle was chasing an osprey with a fish.
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I suspect the osprey was one of a pair that has a nest on a light tower near the Edmonds School District's bus barn. The nest is visible from I-5. The pursuit went on for several minutes as the osprey circled its way southeast with the eagle on its tail. The eagle kept the same distance from the osprey, I assume to allow it time to snatch the fish should the osprey drop it.
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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
The two birds turned to small dots in the distance, but the osprey refused to drop the fish. The tables turned as a second osprey appeared and began harassing the eagle, which went on the defensive. I don't know how the encounter ended as the birds disappeared into the distance.

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These aerial dogfights may be a regular occurrence if the eagle has staked out the osprey nest and flight patterns.
 
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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Around noon Wednesday (5/31/17) at Sunset Ave. I photographed two Caspian terns engaging in courtship behavior with a male delivering a fish to a female.

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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
About once a year I see a turkey vulture passing over Edmonds. Wednesday afternoon I met my year's quota.
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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
I taken a vow of secrecy regarding the location of this pileated woodpecker burrow.

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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
I went to Brackett's Landing Wednesday afternoon (5/31) for beachside shots of Caspian terns diving for fish.

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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
I have wondered what animal makes the paths through vegetation at the marsh. I found out Thursday evening (6/1) when I saw a small rabbit below the #1 viewing platform. I could not find references to any wild rabbit species native to our area, so I assume it is a descendant of a pet that escaped or was released.

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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Swallows and their relatives have been quite active. Some shots from Tuesday (6/6).

Martin gourds near the ferry dock. They are attached to the pilings where the Pt. Edwards eagles often perch.
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Violet-green swallows were at the nest box off the #3 viewing platform at the marsh....
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but the box has been claimed by a pair of tree swallows.
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I'll have to return to both locations with the 500mm lens + 1.4x TC.
 

Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Some small birds Wed. evening (6/7) from the #1 viewing platform at the marsh.

Goldfinch.
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Violet-green swallows.
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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Sometimes the wildlife comes to you. From my back deck Wednesday night.
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This one curled up on the top step. I assume it left once the rain started.
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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Some Caspian terns flew over the marsh Thursday afternoon (6/8) while my son and I were waiting for an eagle to take off from its hiding place by Willow Creek. One tern was chasing and squawking at his buddy who had caught a fish.

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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Friday afternoon (6/9) at Lake Ballinger Park in nearby Mountlake Terrace.

Black-capped chickadee.
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The park is a good spot for Savannah sparrow.
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An evil minion of the Dark Lord was attacking a gull. The gull got no sympathy from one of the resifdent eagles in the background, as it had been subject to similar harassment as well.
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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Still trying for the perfect tern dive shot. About a half dozen terns were circling the Sound off Sunset Ave. Monday (6/12), which makes me wonder if there is a nesting colony nearby.

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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Shots from Wednesday (6/14).

A male red-winged blackbird was singing in a light rain at the marsh.
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Practicing my swallows in flight shots at the marsh.
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No doubt about the location in Woodway of this spotted towhee.
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Some Heermann's gulls in breeding plumage at the underwater dive park at Brackett's Landing. I could be mistaken, but it strikes me as being early to see these gulls in Edmonds.
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Bill Anderson

Super Moderator
Staff member
Thursday afternoon (6/16) a friend and I spotted a green heron flying into a tree beside Sprague Pond at Mini Park in Lynnwood. My friend used her binos to spot the heron's nest and three babies. I managed a poor shot of one of them.

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