It was great to get out today straight from the 8AM service, and we headed for Purdy with target species of Common Murre, White-winged Scoter, Heermann’s Gull, and Ancient Murrelet. Purdy was pretty quiet, and our next stop at the Fox Island Bridge gave nice looks at lots of birds, but none of the above Read More…
Category: Pierce County
Orting Farm Loop
Kay and I drove the Orting Farm Loop, across the Puyallup River on Calistoga, today and enjoyed sunny skies and the ride but only a likely juvenile Am. Kestrel was of any note for birds. This was on our way to the Bellevue Arts Museum where the shows were excellent and we visited with Stephanie Read More…
A Fellowship of Birders at Gig Harbor Viewpoint – 5-Mile Drive
Today was a midday to gather with fellow birders at the recent Pierce County hotspot, the Gig Harbor Viewpoint off 5-Mile Drive at Point Defiance. I got there about 10:45 (the drive is closed to traffic until 10 AM) just as Ken Brown was bringing Sophie (his dog) through the hole in the fence. Already Read More…
What Storm?
This morning I got out to look at the Sound, at Brown’s Point Lighthouse and Dash Point, hoping maybe the wind had blown something in from the ocean, but it was very quiet, and despite fair viewing conditions, not much wind or rain, nothing much there. Then I checked out American Lake, at the Camp Read More…
Pierce First Lapland Longspur
Today Kay and I headed back to Gog-li-hi-ti to look for the Lapland Longspurs seen yesterday by Michael Charest. We got there about 8:30 and started to walk back and forth in the mowed central meadow hoping to see or more likely flush the longspurs. After several transects walked, I was starting to be discouraged, Read More…
Today in Pierce
This morning after a workout at the “Y” I headed for the trail at the end of McNeil in Dupont to see if the Northern Harrier or BBPL seen from there recently might still be around. A bit drizzly but not too wet, but nothing but distant gulls, cormorants, a couple of Common Loons, and Read More…
Pectoral Sandpiper at Levy Pond
Bruce and others have had a Pectoral Sandpiper at Levy Pond for several days, and so when I got home from ME today I headed there after unpacking and getting lunch. Sure enough, it hung around and was in good light at pretty close range for photos.
Cassin’s Aucklet Today
About 11:30 AM today Bruce texted to let me know he had a Cassin’s Aucklet off Dash point. I had to work the Rotary Lot 1-5 today so was not able to dash over. I thought it was unlikely the bird would remain long, but after dinner Kay and I went over to check it Read More…
Out with Kay this Morning
This morning Kay and I intended to first bird several areas at Point Defiance, but after checking Owen’s Beach were unable to do the 5-mile drive as it was closed until 10AM. We then went to the Chamber’s Bay beach access where two sanderlings remained, and enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air, but not much Read More…
Sanderlings Stuck Around for Me Today
Bruce and many others have been seeing a small flock of Sanderling’s at the Chamber’s Bay Beach Access area for the last week or so, and I thought I’d likely miss them, but my first chance after getting back today I went and tried. I was thinking maybe they had vamooshed but no, after a Read More…