Juanita Bay Park Field Trip Summary
Location: Juanita Bay Park
Date: Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm
Distance: 0.41 miles
Duration: 90 minutes
Species Observed: 22
We had a lovely evening trip to Juanita Bay Park. As a new trip leader, participating in the Trip Leader Mentor program, this was my first opportunity to organize a walk. The trip had a cap of 10 participants, including two trip leaders, myself and Antonio. We had a total 10 registrations with 6 people joining us. The weather was the perfect temperature, it was a bit overcast, but the mosquitos were non-existent.
Our walk started with crossing the grass to head for the first boardwalk closest to the causeway. Just as we reached the lower part of the trail, someone in the group spotted a small, black bird, in the distance. Although there were quite a number of crows and a Steller’s Jay, we all agreed this was not a crow, but was a bit off to be a Woodpecker too. After some time, the bird flew right towards us and entered a nest hole in the tree that we were all standing next to. The bird remained in the hole for awhile and then popped its head out for just a moment. It was long enough for our loan photographer, Jasper, to capture a shot. Black head with a hint of iridescence and a black, sharp tipped beak. Consensus was European Starling, but with a question mark. Upon later viewing of images, it was clearly a juvenile European Starling entering adult plumage.
As we continued down the boardwalk, we were entertained by Downy Woodpeckers calling and we did see at least one, a Song Sparrow sang with an Anna’s Hummingbird joining in the chorus, and a few Black-capped Chickadees discussed the day’s events (aka “a chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-did you hear the news today?”). A Bewick’s Wren was busily searching for an evening snack amongst the branches. At the lookout platform we were entertained by diving Caspian Terns, Wood Ducks, Pied-Billed Grebes, Canada Geese, Mallards, a loan sleeping female Hooded Merganser, Vaux’s Swifts, Barn Swallows, American Coots, Great Blue Herons, a Bald Eagle, and for some, a quick glimpse of a Virginia Rail. Our big sighting win for the day, and a lifer for several of us (me included), was a Sora. The Sora stuck around for quite some time, feeding from the lily pads. It was quite exciting for everyone on the platform. The sunset was beautiful and the Bay was so peaceful that we decided to just stay there and enjoy all of the evening activity. We finished our walk with a sighting of the beavers and a bullfrog. As we walked back to the parking lot, the Spotted Towhees sang a fond farewell to us. It was a great walk and I hope to make these a regular Spring and Summer trip. Thank you to all that came out and to our feathered and non-feathered animal friends for treating us with a great evening.
Respectfully submitted,
Amanda Buse
Photo credit: Sora at Juanita Bay Park by Jasper Lieber