Chehalis Estuary Canoe trip

[kastern]

Yesterday we spent 6 hours out in the canoe. Started out at 8 and headed along the foreshore of Eagle Point Park. Haven't been to the Park since the last canoe trip but since water has dropped a couple of feet will attempt a walk over there one day when I can brave the heat and the mosquitoes - not to mention all the houses that seem to be springing up overnight Then crossed over to the Harrison and worked along the edge of the water going up all the little bays and up the Chehalis as far as we could, then over to Morris Valley Road, up another arm into the Pine Forest and then finally back home.

Anyway, here is the day's bird list:

Red Wing Blackbirds - lots, this years crop of youngsters out

Common Yellow Throat - didn't actually see any but could hear a few.

Bullock's Oriole - saw several but all just in the area of our place and Eagle Point Park.

Goldfinch - quite a few, again in same area as the Orioles

Tree Swallows - lots!!! Nesting in 2 of the Purple Martin Boxes and at least two of the nest boxes, also in one of the nest boxes we erected last spring over by the Chehalis.

Barn Swallows - quite a few although not nearly as many as Tree Swallows.

Purple Martin ;D ;D - just one, sitting on the piling beside the piling with the Martin boxes, it was being harrassed by the Tree Swallows.

Spotted Sandpipers - saw at least 5 which included one fledgling - they obviously nested in the big bay area at Eagle Point ;D as that is where it was with 3 of the adults

Black Cap Chickadee - could hear them at Eagle Point and everywhere else we got close to trees.

Heron - there were tons of Heron we saw 9 at the end of just one of the little bays. Seemed to be quite a few young ones. My guess is that there were at least a couple of dozen in the area.

Osprey - saw 2

Kingfisher - saw 2, a female at Eagle Point and another, down in the willows over by the Chehalis - acting quite un Kingfisher like - perhaps a young one

Robins - saw 5 or 6

Unknown Sandpiper - at Eagle Point saw a lone Sandpiper that was bigger than a Spotted, was not a Killdeer - didn't get a really good look, don't think it was a Yellowlegs - possibly a Solitary

Pied Bill Grebe - for the life of us we couldn't find it, but definitely heard at least one - have been hearing them out there off and on all spring.

Hairy Woodpecker - saw one at Eagle Point and a youngster sitting on a stump over on the Chehalis side.

Common Merganser - saw a total of 7 females flying out in the open water and saw one female with approx. 10 ducklings on the Chehalis

Yellow Warbler - spotted 5 in total.

Marsh Wren - saw 1 but heard dozens, all over on the Chehalis side.

Geese - several hundred. They are molting so all very secretative slinking about in the grasses over on the Chehalis side.

Cedar Wax Wing - saw at least 12 all over at the Chehalis side although several were flying back and forth across the open water.

Song Sparrow - saw 3 and heard more.

Mallards - saw 2 males and 4 females, all individually.

Thrush - probably a Swainson's - spotted it in a tree on the Chehalis - can hear lots of Swainson's this year so assume that is what it was. Didn't get a great look.

Red Breasted Sapsucker - 5 - 1 at Eagle Point, 2 adults and 2 youngsters up the Chehalis.

Killdeer - 1 up the Chehalis

Rufous Hummingbird - heard a couple while on the Chehalis side.

North West Crow - only 1

Hawks - 2 ID uncertain - our best guess is Rough Legged - could that be possible this time of the year They were big Hawks, basically same size as the Turkey Vulture that was flying with them - dark along the front of the wings, light at the back (more contrast than a Turkey Vulture), light head and light the rest of the body.

Turkey Vulture - 1

Northern Rough Wing Swallows - 5

Eastern Kingbirds - 5 ;D ;D Saw Eastern Kingbirds out there last year but only a couple. There were 3 up the Chehalis and I almost feel they had a nest there (haven't looked up yet to see what they nest in or how) but there was a group of deciduous trees and one of the Kingbirds was sitting at the top and then chased away another 2 that came near and I could hear sounds from about half way up the group of trees but couldn't spot anything, then the Sapsuckers came to the same group of trees and they got chased too and there was the same sound coming from the same spot.

Common Loon - could hear 1 in the distance

Wood Duck - spooked 1

Cinnamon Teal was amazed to come across a pair of them up one of the quiet arms of water.

Bush Tit - saw 1 and am sure there were more, again up one of the arms by the Chehalis

Bald Eagle - 3

Finally I need ID on this one - a Fly Catcher - medium size for a Fly Catcher - very yellow on the breast and under the 'chin'. Would tip head back when it called - call was a sort of 'whitt whew' call. I got these not very great pictures - any ideas





Kathy

PS also saw a Raccoon at Eagle Point and a Coyoto laying on a sand bank in the sun up the Chehalis

[Gord]

Wow Kathy!! In my upcoming report, I had a martin at Nicomen Slough yesterday at the martin boxes I put up. The Martin Recovery Team is going to be VERY excited!!!!! Was this a male or female? Mine was a female.

When I figure out why my computer isnt showing pictures, Ill take a guess at your mystery flycatcher!

Good birding report!

[kastern]

Re the Purple Martin - my guess - and it's only a guess - is that it was a male. It seemed to be very dark all over. I'm not really familiar with Martin's but I remember that some on the island, I assume the females after consulting my books, were very light on the underside. I did try for a picture but it was right into the early morning sun and distant, so didn't turn out.
I will have to try and get over there, but not until this heat wave breaks - I have a low tolerance for bugs and an even lower tolerance for heat.

Kathy

[Gord]

Hi Kathy

I looked at the pictures and description of that flycatcher, but no luck! That yellow seems apparent even in the far off picture! The call you describe sounds similar to a willow. I dont think it could be a willow, but would you say they're similar?

Nice work on the teal!

Those hawks are interesting too. By rights, rough-legged hawks should only be down here in the late fall and winter (breed high north) but anything is possible. Same for the sandpiper. Solitary sandpipers are seen in the area every summer but usually starting in August. Again, anything is possible and I never rule out something based on the time of year. Hope you get another look at these birds and that flycatcher.

I dont like the heat or the bugs either. Ill actually take the bugs over this heat!! I know many people that would be shocked and even offended at such blaspmeous words towards this heat wave.

[kastern]

I suppose Willow flycatcher is a possibility. The size seems about right. It was in an area of willows but it is that yellow that is throwing me. When I first saw it I immediately thought 'Western Kingbird' but then realized it was too small for that and when I saw the pictures it definitely was 'flycatcher' not 'kingbird'. It was the habit of throwing it's head back and calling that really got me yet I've read (scanned) Sibley's guide to birdlife and behavior and can't see that mentioned. It did fly down to a water level branch and climb along just above the water, which seemed 'unflycatcher-like' but Sibley's does mention that Willow flycatcher's do go down to the ground so that is another positive.

Also after checking that book I'm positive that there is an Eastern Kingbird next in the area I described, the area, the height and the behavior of the visible Kingbird all fit.

Won't be able to check the area again for a while as we are heading out right after work tomorrow, to Tunkwa Lake so we can do the second leg of our Loon Lake Survey for Bird Studies Canada. Will be back, with I hope a lengthy report, next week.

Kathy

[kastern]

I suppose Willow flycatcher is a possibility. The size seems about right. It was in an area of willows but it is that yellow that is throwing me. When I first saw it I immediately thought 'Western Kingbird' but then realized it was too small for that and when I saw the pictures it definitely was 'flycatcher' not 'kingbird'. It was the habit of throwing it's head back and calling that really got me yet I've read (scanned) Sibley's guide to birdlife and behavior and can't see that mentioned. It did fly down to a water level branch and climb along just above the water, which seemed 'unflycatcher-like' but Sibley's does mention that Willow flycatcher's do go down to the ground so that is another positive.

Also after checking that book I'm positive that there is an Eastern Kingbird nest in the area I described, the area, the height and the behavior of the visible Kingbird all fit.

Won't be able to check the area again for a while as we are heading out right after work tomorrow, to Tunkwa Lake so we can do the second leg of our Loon Lake Survey for Bird Studies Canada. Will be back, with I hope a lengthy report, next week.

Kathy

[Gord]

I dont think this is a willow either. The behaviour sure isnt flycatcherish to me and from what I've ever seen! The fact you thought western kingbird at first makes this bird quite yellow, something the little flycatchers in our area are really not! I guess you cant zoom in closer on the picture?

Weird!!

Enjoy your trip, and look forward to hearing from you when you get back.