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Fidalgo Island Bird Watching
Weather, climate, and the seasons all help to create the natural environment. An expression of an environment is its wildlife. This region is a mecca for bird watching. The famous Wrangel Island (Ostrov Vrangelya) flock of snow geese from the Siberian Arctic winters in the Skagit delta nearby. Also famous are the gangs of bald eagles seen on Skagit float trips. The following is a collection of casual sightings along the south Fidalgo shoreline between Similk Bay and Deception Pass. Most were observed in or from my yard. The frequency codes are based on my own experience and are F/Frequent, O/Occasional and R/Rare.
A seagull rises;
the mussel drops with a clap,
picnic on the beach. | 
Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
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Common Name | Scientific Name | Freq | Comments | Blackbird, Red-Winged | Agelaius phoeniceus | F | | Bufflehead | Bucephela albeola | O | | Chickadee, Chestnut-Backed | Poecile rufescens | F | | Cormorant, Brandt's | Phalocrocorax penicillatus | F | | Cowbird, Brown-Headed | Molothus ater | F | | Creeper, Brown | Certhia americana | R | | | Crossbill, Red | Loxia curvirostra | R | | | Crow, American | Corvus brachyrhynchos | F | They found my feeder. | Crow, Northwestern | Corvus caurinus | F | Always around the beach | Dove, Mourning | Zenaida macroura | F | | Duck, Harlequin | Histrionicus histrionicus | O | | Duck, Tufted | Aythya fuligula | R | Apparently an Asian stray | Eagle, Bald | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | F | | Falcon, Peregrine | Falco peregrinus | R | | Finch, House | Carpodacus mexicanus | F | | Finch, Purple | Carpodacus purpureus | R | | Flicker, Northern | Coloptes auratus | F | "Red-Shafted" | Goldeneye, Barrow's | Bucephela islandica | O | | Goldfinch, American | Carduelis tristis | F | Our state bird | Goose, Canada | Branta canadensis | O | | Goose, Snow | Chen caerulescens | R | | Goshawk, Northern | Accipiter gentilis | O | | Grebe, Horned | Podiceps auritus | O | | Grebe, Western | Aechmorphorus occidentalis | F | | Grosbeak, Black-Headed | Pheucticus melanocephalus | O | | Gull, Bonaparte's | Larus philadelphia | R | | Gull, Glaucus-Winged* | Larus glaucescens | F | Gulls are quiet and peaceable here | Gull, Western* | Larus occidentalis | O | *Not skilled enough to ID species | Hawk, Coopers | Accipiter cooperii | O | | Hawk, Red-Tailed | Buteo jamaicensis | F | | | Hawk, Sharp-Shinned | Accipiter striatus | O | | Heron, Great Blue | Ardea herodias | F | Nesting sites | Hummingbird, Anna's | Calypte anna | F | | | Hummingbird, Rufous | Selasphorus rufus | O | | Jay, Steller's | Cyanocitta stelleri | F | Cowardly bullies | Junco, Dark-Eyed | Junco hyemalis | F | | Kestrel, American | Falco sparverius | O | | Kingfisher, Belted | Ceryle alcyon | F | | Kinglet, Golden-Crowned | Regulus satrapa | O | Also "Orange-Crowned" | Kinglet, Ruby-Crowned | Regulus calendula | O | | Loon, Common | Gavia immer | F | Wonderful early morning sounds | Meadowlark, Western | Sturnella neglecta | O | | Merganser, Red-Breasted | Mergus serrator | O | | Merlin | Falco columbarius | O | | Murre, Common | Uria aalge | F | | Murrelet, Marbled | Brachyramphus marmoratus | F | Nesting sites | Nuthatch, Red-Breasted | Sitta canadensis | O | | Oriole, Bullock's | Icterus bullockii | R | | Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | O | Seattle's "Seahawk" | | Owl, Great Horned | Bubo virginianus | F | | Oystercatcher, Black | Haematopus bachmani | R | | Pipit, American | Anthus rubescens | R | | Prowler, EA-6B | Navius radarjamicus | O | They nest over on Whidbey | Quail, California | Callipepla californica | F | They nest in my yard | Raven, Common | Corvus corax | F | See his story below | Robin, American | Turdus migratorius | F | Gardening stalkers (worms!) | Sandpiper, Spotted | Actitis macularius | F | | Scaup, Greater | Aythya marila | O | | Scaup, Lesser | Aythya affinis | O | | Scoter, Surf | Melanitta perspicillata | O | | | Scoter, White-Winged | Melanitta fusca | O | | | Siskin, Pine | Carduelis pinus | O | | Sparrow, Fox | Passerella iliaca | F | | Sparrow, Golden-Crowned | Zonotrichia atricapilla | R | | | Sparrow, House | Passer domesticus | F | | Sparrow, Song | Melospiza melodia | O | Crack of dawn serenades | Sparrow, White-Crowned | Zonotrichia leucophrys | F | | Starling, European | Sturnus vulgurus | F | Vulgurus indeed! | | Swallow, Tree | Tachycineta bicolor | O | | Swan, Trumpeter | Cygnus columbianus | O | | Tern, Common | Sterna hirundo | O | Stop by on migration in August | Thrush, Swainson's | Catharus ustulatus | R | | Thrush, Varied | Ixoreus naevius | O | | Towhee, Spotted | Pipilo maculatus | F | A favorite | Vireo, Hutton's | Vireo huttoni | R | | Waxwing, Cedar | Bombycilla cedrorum | O | Always a treat | Wigeon, American | Anas americana | F | | | Woodpecker, Downey | Picoides pubescens | O | | Woodpecker, Hairy | Picoides villosus | O | | Woodpecker, Pileated | Dryocopus pileatus | F | Truly magnificent birds | Wood-Pewee, Western | Contopus sordidulus | R | | Wren, Winter | Troglodytes troglodytes | F | | | | | | | | | |
Meet Raven
To northwest cultures, Raven is "Big Man," the transformer, trickster and creator. He is known in legends as the one who rescued the sun from a greedy old man, bringing light to the world. He discovered man in a clamshell, brought the salmon and the water, and taught man how to fish and hunt. He is the sky messenger of the animal kingdom. Raven is an adventurous glutton, but his adventures always end with a benefit to mankind. The story of "Raven Releases the Sun" is told all over the Northwest Coast. It is easy to understand why Native Americans revered them. When observed up close, an intelligence and an awareness not seen in other birds is apparent. Raven will be your guide to Fidalgo area beach combing. |
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