Purdy/Key Peninsula Field Trip (Oct. 31, 2009) Highlights

As usual, there were numerous PELEGIC CORMORANTS perched under the bridge right over their feeding grounds in the channel. The abundance of food in this channel attracts many waterbirds. HORNED & RED-NECKED GREBES were common, an EARED GREBE was also present, and a large raft of WESTERN GREBES were far out in the channel to the east. PACIFIC & COMMON LOONS, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and a BRANDT'S CORMORANT. There were PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, BUFFLEHEAD, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, SURF SCOTERS. RING-BILLED & GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS  were common and at least one WESTERN GULL. The usual BELTED KINGFISHER was among the boats in the bay on the east side of the bridge.

Our next stop was at Kopachuck State Park where a walk through the woods leads to the beach. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, WINTER WREN, SONG SPARROW, SPOTTED TOWHEE, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were found in the woods.  From the beach we saw more of the same waterbirds seen at Fox Island while on the beach of Cutts Island were about 100 harbor seals. At a stop at the north end of the Gig Harbor marina there were MALLARD and AMERICAN WIGEON, a number of MEW GULLS and a CALIFORNIA GULL. a flock of ROCK PIGEONS flew along the shore. From there we drove over the Purdy Causeway and then down the Key Peninsula to Joe's Bay at the village of Home. We usually find WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS here and we weren't disappointed. A GREAT BLUE HERON was stalking on the shoreline. Also, seen along the road were STELLER'S JAY and some GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS.

We went to Penrose Point SP for lunch in the sunshine. Another Belted Kingfishers was perched in a snag on the shoreline. After lunch we walked through the woods towards the point. We struck a bonanza of birds - CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, BROWN CREEPERS, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, and FOX SPARROWS. Two HUTTON'S VIREO was also seen among the Ruby-crowned Kinglets and we were able to get a good comparison between the two. In the bay on the other side of the point was a flock of about 12 HARLEQUIN DUCKS as well as many of the water birds we had seen earlier on the trip. An adult BALD EAGLE was soaring over the trees across the bay. The next stop was on the west side of the peninsula at Joemma Beach SP. The strong west wind made the walk to the end of the pier quite chilly so we didn't stay very long. We didn't see any new species, but we did see a RED-TAILED HAWK soaring in the wind. Earlier we seen 2-3 others from the highway.

We went back to the Purdy Causeway and stopped to scope the waters. New species observed were HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS. Our final stop was at Snake Lake Nature Preserve. We walked the trail and saw our first DARK-EYED JUNCOS and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES. A couple of NORTHERN SHOVELER and a number of CANADA GEESE were on the ponds. We used to be certain of seeing Wood Ducks here, but for the past few years this has not been as reliable. This year we did not see any.

Overall, it was an enjoyable trip in good weather that resulted in good views of many of the 54 species seen.