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

April 8: Sunshine and calm seas greeted our group as we arrived at the West Beach parking lot in Deception Pass State Park. There were numerous seabirds near shore, including Horned Grebes in full breeding plumage. The colorful males were a first for me. I was dazzled by their gleaming yellow feathers. 

We saw a Common Loon in breeding plumage near the “oystercatcher rock.” Several of the group identified a Pacific Loon. A flight of Pelagic Cormorants flapped by, the white patches above their tails clearly visible. Two birders spotted a pair of Black Oystercatchers. Other seabirds included Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-necked Grebes and a Rhinoceros Auklet.

Moving on to Cranberry Lake, we admired a pair of Bald Eagles perched on the crown of an evergreen tree. We followed the ADA trail into the forest and heard Golden-crowned Kinglets, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren and Marsh Wren. We admired the wetland visible from the overlook while Tree Swallows swooped past. A Belted Kingfisher flew by with its characteristic call and flight pattern.

Last, but not least was the view from the beach beyond the sand dunes. The highlight there was a pair of Hudsonian Whimbrels hanging out with a flock of gulls. It was a fabulous day.

Total species: 40