Overcast with occasional light rain showers this morning and afternoon, partial clearing in the early evening. Winds were light around town, but there were some waves on the water.
I headed down to the park this morning. Still some shorebirds and a few ducks around, but still much quieter than last week. I heard Wilson’s Warbler (#123) calling in the salmonberries in front of the visitor center and realized the warbler I heard yesterday may not have been one. In hindsight I should have made a recording, but now I’m thinking it may have been a Yellow or Yellow-rumped Warbler.
I was talking with Connor when a harrier came over close enough I heard the wind its feathers. It looks like I am up to as many harrier sightings this spring as all my other years combined. I have 7 observations in iNaturalist (I don’t remember if I had any sightings without photos, but there weren’t many, if so.) I’ve now had 7 different sightings (on one occasion two at the same time) this spring.
Connor mentioned there were Pectoral Sandpipers at Swan Lake. They were still around when I stopped by after the park (#124). Geese were continuing (though only one Cackling Goose), and some shovelers were on the lake as well.
After a brief stop at the Turnaround (a couple of Marbled Godwits and some peeps, but Whimbrels seen earlier in the morning had apparently departed), I met up with KL and we did some more birding.
This included a walk around old airport road and Lazaria Drive, a drive out to Silver Bay (60+ Pacific Loons, though not especially close), and a brief check at Starrigavan.
Coming back in from Starrigavan, I noticed a raptor over the trees at Halibut Point Rec, and realized it was a Red-tailed Hawk (#125). With a car coming up behind me, I pulled into the first place that seemed like it would offer enough space to see over the trees.
By the time I had come to a stop, some crows were mobbing the hawk. (I’ve noticed them mobbing ravens on at least a couple of recent occasions, so I suspect they’re nesting somewhere nearby.) I was able to grab a few shots hoping something would turn out reasonably in the brief time the hawk was visible before flying off towards the golf course.
We walked down to the beach at the south rec area. The tide was up, but there were a few shorebirds at the beach. A small flock of peeps and four Wandering Tattlers (which ultimately flew over to Magic Island).
This evening I went and played ultimate (frisbee). It sounds like turnouts have been good, but I hadn’t gotten around to going until today. It had been well over a year since I have played, so I was a bit rusty. It was nice to run around a bit, though.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
