West Seattle Shoreline Field Trip (Jan. 30, 2010) Highlights

 We had a light drizzle most of the morning. At Salty's and boat launch areas we saw Pigeon Guillemot in three plumages, Surf Scoter, Barrow's Goldeneye, Horned, Red-necked and Western Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, American Crow and House Sparrow. I think this is the first time we did not see a Bald Eagle across the street where the nest is. However, we did see an American Kestrel fly over the area. We finally found a number of Surfbirds and Black Turnstones in the rocks west of the park at Duwamish Head. Also from the park we saw Red-breasted Merganser, Ring-billed and Glaucous-winged Gulls, Rock Pigeons. On the way to the west shoreline a was small Cooper's Hawk, undoubtedly a male, was spotted. Along the west shoreline there were about 60 Sanderling resting on a log in the water. We saw our first Common Goldeneye, a number of Bufflehead, and good looks at beautiful Harlequin Ducks. We also saw American Robin and then about 15 Brant near the apartment building out over the water. We parked at the north parking lot at Lincoln Park and walked thru the woods to the beach. In the woods someone spotted a Varied Thrush that evolved into a total of seven. They have been rather scarce this winter, so everyone enjoyed seeing so many at one time. Other passerbys enjoyed seeing them thru a scope, including one young girl of about 3-4 years of age. In the same area was a Brown Creeper.  After we got to the beach, we saw a first Mallard in the bay by the ferry terminal. Northern Flicker, Spotted Towhee and Bewick's Wren were heard in the woods and brush along the beach. While eating lunch at Spud's we saw our only European Starling of the day. It turned out to be a pleasant day and the drizzle did not bother us. A number of people were very pleased with seeing one or two life birds.