Cornet Bay/Hoypus Point Field Trip at Deception Pass St. Park

By Steve Ellis

March 7: A highlight of this 2-hour field trip occurred before it even started: an adult Bald Eagle skimmed the surface of the bay and caught a surf smelt in each of its talons. The trip itself, with 16 attendees, commenced at the marina.  Several Bufflehead were there, along with a pair of Pied-billed Grebes. A Belted Kingfisher dove a couple of times from the railing of a sailboat. Other waterbirds included Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants, Red-breasted Mergansers, Canada Geese, and Pigeon Guillemots.

We walked the road towards the point, encountering a large flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees and both Kinglet species.  A male Downy Woodpecker was also part of the flock.   A side trail led us into a section of the old-growth forest.  The attendees marveled at the huge Douglas firs there.  The tall trees contrasted well with a tiny Pacific Wren that flew across the trail within two feet of the trip leader.  Heard but not seen along our route were Common Raven, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Bewick’s Wren.

Highlights on this cloudy but dry day included signs of spring: blooming salmonberry, osoberry, red-flowering currant and skunk cabbage. One of the attendees was a 10-year old boy who came with his family. He is an avid birder who was very excited to receive the Whidbey Audubon Society checklist. It was a privilege to mentor this keen young birder. 

Many thanks to Martha Ellis for sharing her knowledge of native plants and to Ranger Nate for his help with the trip.