For background information Edmonds Marsh has been the center of wetlands conservation efforts for a number of years. The Marsh is a rare entity — an estuary within city limits. At present Ebird lists 220 species having been sighted there, of which I alone have seen just over half. The Marsh/Estuary is a refuge for many birds as a habitat or a stopover. It is thus an important resource for local and migrating birds. At present is consists of 22 acres and the Marshians (See www.edmondsmarshestuary.org) have been trying to add another 22 acres that currently belong to Chevron, who have been cleaning up the old Unocal oil storage facility for over 20 years. That land was to be sold to the Washington state DOT when the cleanup was finished, with the goal of paving it for parking and loading at a new ferry facility. However the state declined to pay for the moving of the ferry dock and that project is now defunct. The city of Edmonds, which owns the Marsh wildlife park is currently in a monetary crisis and purchasing the acreage from DOT seems hopeless. If the property was transferred to the state Fish and Wildlife and Willow Creek, which feeds into the Marsh was daylighted to flow directly into Puget Sound, there is every likelihood that the salmon would return and the estuary would be restored, as they have at other sites in the state of Washington.
Edmonds Marsh in September. Note huge flock of California Gulls.
I can reach the Marsh, which is about a mile away from where I live, using my walker and today (September 11th) that is exactly what I did. I was not surprised by what I saw in the Marsh when I got there at 9:35 AM, as I had last visited on the afternoon of September 8th an seen some of the same birds.
The Marsh had been taken over by a huge flock of California Gulls! I had never seen so many, well over 150, with a few Glaucous-winged Gulls, some hybrids, and three Caspian Terns! Years ago I saw a fairly large flock of Heermann’s Gulls (75), but this was astonishing!
California Gull on Edmonds Marsh.
Glaucous-winged Gull, Edmonds Marsh,
A portion of the flock of mainly California Gulls on Edmonds Marsh.
In addition to the huge flock of gulls, several species of ducks were seen, but no Mallards, although I had seen them the last time I visited, One of the less common ducks that showed up today was a female Northern Pintail.
Female Northern Pintail, Edmonds Marsh.
There were also Shoveler ducks, American Wigeons, Gadwalls, and Green-winged Teal.
Northern Shoveler female, Edmonds Marsh.
American Wigeon, Edmonds Marsh.
Gadwalls and Shoveler, Edmonds Marsh,
After a while a Great Blue Heron flew into the Marsh.
Great Blue Heron, Edmonds Marsh.
Among non-water birds was a Belted Kingfisher, Dark-eyed Juncos, Song Sparrows, a Spotted Towhee and a White-crowned Sparrow. These are usual finds at the Marsh.
Female Belted Kingfisher, Edmonds Marsh.
Dark-eyed Junco, Edmonds Marsh.
White-crowned Sparrow, Edmonds Marsh.
One of the causes that I am passionate about is the protection and rehabilitation of wetlands. It is, in my opinion, vital that we do all we can to protect these areas of high productivity, carbon sequestration, oxygen production, wildlife habitat and human mental health. This has been difficult because our current economic system is directed toward development and profit. Unless we alter that trend we will wake up one day and see that the earth predicted in the cartoon WALL-E has come true. End of rant!
What have you all been seeing?
All photos are by me.
