Birding in Neighborhoods North

By Nancy Luenn

Birding in Neighborhoods North (BIN North) outings are on the second Wednesday of the month. We meet at 9 am in the parking area of the trip’s location. To be added to — or removed from — the monthly outing reminders, email Nancy Luenn

May 13: BINN visited Admiralty Inlet Preserve on a cool gray day. We planned a hybrid excursion to accommodate birders who are having trouble walking. Halfway around the meadow, two birders set up their folding chairs while the others continued on the trail toward an ancient windswept Douglas Fir.

Iris missouriensis at Admiralty Inlet Preserve.
Photo Credit: Jim Zimay

The highlight for the seated birders was listening to Orange-crowned Warblers warbling. They finally spotted the soloist at the top of a fir tree. These observers also saw an early Cedar Waxwing and watched three species of swallows – Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow and Violet-green Swallow – swooping over the meadow.

The walkers had close-up views of several Tree Swallows perched on top of nesting boxes. They let us get quite close and we admired their brilliant blue feathers before they flew away. Continuing into the woods, we had some impressive views of Bald Eagles. Two adults were perched in a tree next to the trail. A juvenile flew past inline with the top of the bluff. Another adult was perched at the top of a tree near the parking lot, harassed by a Northern Harrier. 

Species heard but not seen included Northern Flicker, Bushtit, Northern House Wren, American Goldfinch, Spotted Towhee and Northern Yellow Warbler. Total species: 19

The hoped-for wildflowers were muted, either by the time of year or impending rain, but we paused along the way to admire Scarlet Paintbrush and a native purple iris [Iris missouriensis].