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The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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November 28, 2019
Skagit River Delta, PacificNorthwest
Winter is prime birding season on the delta, especially the triangle of flat agricultural land between the north and south forks of the Skagit River, known as Fir Island. Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife has jurisdiction over several sites there, mostly coastal estuarine marshland, where birds congregate for winter feasting and sheltering.
Hayton Reserve is a no hunting/no dogs site that is very popular among birders, for good reason. On our way through Fir Island a couple of days ago the tide was medium, leaving enough muddy intertidal for shorebirds. They were very very busy, there being few hours of mud exposure during daylight hours in winter.
These are a few of the birds I saw that clear cold sunny day (and a couple other days recently).
Hayton Reserve: fields, mudflats, birders and a view across to the Cascade mountains
Greater Yellowlegs are much more common in this area so it was cool to see a few Lessers too. One of each in this picture.
Long-billed Dowitchers winter here, whereas Short-billeds only stop by on migration
This is a Dunlin. Note the different shaped beak.
Dunlin to the right, left, above, below…..
There were about 5000 dunlin here, give or take. This is only one portion of the mudflat.
The Dunlin were murmurating. So awesome! I watched until the cold got to me. Somehow these small birds manage to eat enough mud inverts to keep flying, off and on, all day. This picture is from the previous day, the 27th, when the tide was high.
Raptors abound on the Flats, interested in shorebirds among other critters. I saw quite a few bald eagles and Redtailed hawks this day, the most abundant raptors on the Delta over the years for me although I’ve seen accipiters, kestrels, and these birds too:
Northern Harriers. Saw two this day.
Northern Harrier female/immature.
Seen on a previous visit to Hayton: a Short-eared owl.
Hunting voles. November 20.
Face of the harrier is very similar to the owl’s. Both hunt primarily voles by sound as well as sight.
Along nearby roads if you get lucky you’ll see winter white-wings. The swans and snow geese move around so you never know when or if you’ll see them, much less where.
Trumpeter swans getting a drink of water in a drainage canal. It was partially frozen still in late afternoon.
Didn’t see any of the 50,000 Snow geese on the 28th but the day before on our way down we did see one flock. The geese are so numerous they need to shift from field to field. They are also a target for predators, including eagles and human hunters, so you’ll see them in the air quite often.
The most numerous white-wings are the Snow geese. Black tipped white wings.
A field of geese with snow capped Kulshan (aka Mount Baker) in the distance.
Cold and clear here at home this morning in the PNW islands.
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What’s up in nature in your area today?
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