Wildlife of Edmonds, WA.
- Thread starter Bill Anderson
- Start date
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I got some last year, but none yet this year. Friday (5/17) Terry and I heard from a birder that some were seen at the fish hatchery. We looked there, but saw none.
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Last week (5/10) I photographed a male house finch going after dandelion seeds on the walkway by the marsh.
Wednesday (5/15) at the marsh.
A typical song sparrow will perch on a cattail and serenade you for several minutes.
While a typical marsh wren will curse you, moon you, then disappear into the cattails.
Three violet-green swallows were checking out the gourds hung for purple martins. The design of the entrance hole is supposed to keep the swallows from entering to nest inside.
It worked, as the swallows flew off.
Male cowbird. The female was down in the cattails, probably looking for a red-winged blackbird's or marsh wren's nest in which to lay an egg. The cowbird then leaves the egg for the "adoptive parents" to incubate and raise the hatchling.
A typical song sparrow will perch on a cattail and serenade you for several minutes.
While a typical marsh wren will curse you, moon you, then disappear into the cattails.
Three violet-green swallows were checking out the gourds hung for purple martins. The design of the entrance hole is supposed to keep the swallows from entering to nest inside.
It worked, as the swallows flew off.
Male cowbird. The female was down in the cattails, probably looking for a red-winged blackbird's or marsh wren's nest in which to lay an egg. The cowbird then leaves the egg for the "adoptive parents" to incubate and raise the hatchling.
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It is really nice to see some colorful birds on the local scene after spending the "r" months shooting drab little grey, brown, and black ones. Here are some colorful birds from Thursday (5/16).
Two different species of warblers were posing for photographers at the marsh.
Yellow warbler
Wilson's warbler
Later that evening I found a black-headed grosbeak at Yost Park during my nightly owl hunt.
Two different species of warblers were posing for photographers at the marsh.
Yellow warbler
Wilson's warbler
Later that evening I found a black-headed grosbeak at Yost Park during my nightly owl hunt.
I got some last year, but none yet this year. Friday (5/17) Terry and I heard from a birder that some were seen at the fish hatchery. We looked there, but saw none.
Friday (5/17) Terry and I made our usual rounds under the usual overcast sky.
Crows and red-winged blackbirds were engaging each other in aerial combat over the retention pond at the end of the Pt. Edwards walkway. The evil minions of the Dark Lord were hunting for baby blackbirds in nests down in the cattails and the adult blackbirds were fighting them off.
Crows and red-winged blackbirds were engaging each other in aerial combat over the retention pond at the end of the Pt. Edwards walkway. The evil minions of the Dark Lord were hunting for baby blackbirds in nests down in the cattails and the adult blackbirds were fighting them off.
The next stop was the hairy woodpecker burrow at Pine Ridge Park, where it appeared the female juvie had already fledged. The male juvie looked as though he was going to climb out of the hole each time a parent brought him food.
Terry captured the exact moment the male juvie left the burrow. I got distracted by a nearby flicker and missed it, but got photos of some of his first steps. The male juvie is the bird on the left.
Terry captured the exact moment the male juvie left the burrow. I got distracted by a nearby flicker and missed it, but got photos of some of his first steps. The male juvie is the bird on the left.
From Saturday (5/18) at the marsh.
The only time you can get a clear shot of a marsh wren is in the spring when they perch on top of a cattail for a few minutes to curse you.
After cursing you out, they moon you, then drop down into the cattails to hide.
Update: Sunday I ran into one of the regular birders of the Edmonds Birdmuda Triangle. He too had seen this particular marsh wren and thought it might be a recent fledgling due to the downy appearance of its feathers.
The only time you can get a clear shot of a marsh wren is in the spring when they perch on top of a cattail for a few minutes to curse you.
After cursing you out, they moon you, then drop down into the cattails to hide.
Update: Sunday I ran into one of the regular birders of the Edmonds Birdmuda Triangle. He too had seen this particular marsh wren and thought it might be a recent fledgling due to the downy appearance of its feathers.
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Sunday (5/19) I photographed two house sparrows doing their best to keep Olympic Beach free of litter.
male
female
Later on I caught what I believe to be a western wood pewee at the marsh. It is in the flycatcher family.
male
female
Later on I caught what I believe to be a western wood pewee at the marsh. It is in the flycatcher family.
Monday (5/20) afternoon I went to the fish hatchery to look for colorful birds like warblers and tanagers.
I found an orange-crowned warbler hunting for bugs in the trees at the entrance to the hatchery grounds.
It would occasionally display its namesake orange crown.
Its constant calling helped me track it.
After that, I photographed one of resident Anna's hummers which guards the Pt. Edwards walkway. Like a traffic signal, I must come to a complete stop when he flashes red.
I found an orange-crowned warbler hunting for bugs in the trees at the entrance to the hatchery grounds.
It would occasionally display its namesake orange crown.
Its constant calling helped me track it.
After that, I photographed one of resident Anna's hummers which guards the Pt. Edwards walkway. Like a traffic signal, I must come to a complete stop when he flashes red.
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Wednesday (5/22) Terry and I walked the pt. Edwards walkway hoping to find some warblers. The warblers were no-shows, but we found other interesting birds.
The most photogenic birds were the male red-winged blackbirds, which were chasing almost anything which flew near the pond.
Other birds included a male American goldfinch,
a cedar waxwing,
and a juvie male house finch.
That evening my son and I resumed the owl hunt at Yost Park. It was one of the few times we have struck out. From the frantic distress calls of a robin I knew that at one point I was probably right underneath the owl, but it was getting dark and I could not see it.
I did get a photo of what I believe is a Swainson's thrush. It was pretty dark when I snapped the photo with no flash.
The most photogenic birds were the male red-winged blackbirds, which were chasing almost anything which flew near the pond.
Other birds included a male American goldfinch,
a cedar waxwing,
and a juvie male house finch.
That evening my son and I resumed the owl hunt at Yost Park. It was one of the few times we have struck out. From the frantic distress calls of a robin I knew that at one point I was probably right underneath the owl, but it was getting dark and I could not see it.
I did get a photo of what I believe is a Swainson's thrush. It was pretty dark when I snapped the photo with no flash.
Saturday (5/25) an evil minion of the Dark Lord and a pair of winged beach rats were going at it on the roof of one of the buildings in Harbor Square on the north side of the marsh.
I don't know if the crow was raiding the gull's nest or vice versa, but they were making a lot of noise in the process.
Continued on next page.
I don't know if the crow was raiding the gull's nest or vice versa, but they were making a lot of noise in the process.
Continued on next page.
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