West Seattle Shoreline Field Trip (1/28/06) Highlights

Seven people showed up at the P&R in cool, windy weather.  At our first stop at Salty's Restaurant, five others joined us. Overall we had 12 birders and spotted 26 species.

Barrow's Goldeneyes were numerous as well as Horned and Red-necked Grebes. A single Pigeon Guillemot kept hiding behind pilings. Canada Geese were resting on piers and Double-crested Cormorants on pilings. A number of California sea lions were sleeping on mooring buoys.

Next, we went to the marina and park just to the north. Shortly after we arrived a flock of about 15 Surfbirds flew by. Red-breasted Mergansers were prevalent. We watched an aerial ballet as a number of crows were harassing a Red-tailed Hawk. The next stop was the small park at the Duwamish Head. We found a few Surfbirds feeding in the rocks along the shore and there were four Dunlin sleeping on one rock. Surf Scoters, Bufflehead and Western Grebes were far out in the rough water. About this time the rain began coming down heavily with the wind blowing is horizontally.

We drove to the west side to look for the birds we usually see there, but it was too wet to get out of the car. The weather didn't look very hopeful. Some decided to call it a day, but others decided to stop at the Alki Bakery for something hot to drink and to wait for the rain to let up. While at the bakery the rain did stop and it began to look better, but it was a false hope as just as we left the rain started again. So, we called it off and didn't make it to Lincoln Park. Despite the shortened trip we did see a number of good birds, a complete list which follows:

Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Canada Goose
Brant
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Surfbird
Dunlin
Glaucous-winged Gull
Western Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Rock Pigeon
Northern Flicker
American Crow
American Robin
European Starling
House Sparrow