Overcast with rain. Temperatures around 40. Light winds.
Calls this morning meant I didn’t get out until later.
I suspect this may a crow I've seen from time to time over the past couple of years. Maybe the first time it had an overgrown bill. On later occasions (such as this one) it had broken off.
After checking many of the usual places closer to town, I went out to the industrial park.
I had recently posted on Facebook about some of the unusual birds that have been around so far this year. I also requested folks let me know if they had seen anything unusual.
I got one comment about a white bird out by Silver Bay Seafoods, but they weren’t able to get close to it for a good look.
Once I confirmed it was a land bird, I suspected Snow Bunting. This was my motivation for heading out.
On a pass around the industrial park, I didn’t see it. I did see a fire engine going slowly, and stopping for extended periods. Later it went around the loop a couple times with lights and sirens. I think it was a training session.
After watching from the dock, I checked for the bunting again. This time I parked along the loop and watched from a place where I could see fairly well.
I caught sight of white song bird flying over a building across the park. The fire engine was on that side of the loop, so I opted to go out on Sawmill Creek Road.
It almost looked like the bird may have landed on the roof, so I walked up Blue Lake road far enough to be able to see. I didn’t see it there, nor did I refind it in the fading light.
I did consider the distant, brief view I got as sufficient to be fairly confident it is a Snow Bunting. The only other remotely plausible options that size and color would be McKay’s Bunting or an albino (or nearly so) bird.
Hopefully I will be able to find it and get conclusive looks plus photos in the coming days.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
