“Olympic" Gull

About half-way across Puget Sound, as if on cue, several Western Gulls few up to the Bremerton/Seattle ferry. At the same time, several human teenagers came out on deck, despite the brisk temperatures. and threw popcorn to feed the gulls. I dutifully entered “Western Gull” into my BirdLog eBird app, which indicated that, if a Western Gull was to be found in Puget Sound, it would be rare.

Here is the problem. In Puget Sound, and along the coast from British Columbia to central Oregon, Western Gulls from the south massively hybridize with Glaucous-winged Gulls from the north. The center of this hybrid swarm is Gray’s Harbor, Washington, and the extent of the swarm is increasing, both north and south. The first generation hybrids are usually darker than the northern birds, and lighter than Western Gulls. Backcrosses can be indistinguishable from pure Westerns. These hybrids migrate south in the winter, making identification of Western Gulls difficult south into California (Backyardbider).

Birds of the hybrid swarm are sometimes called “Olympic" or "Puget Sound" Gulls. I do not understand why Western and Glaucous-winged gulls do not constitute a single species. Apparently the two are usually not differentiated by local birders. It may be noteworthy, on my photos, that the first bird appears to have darker gray upper wings than the other two gulls, but all may be hybrids. According to Haywood and Verbeek (2008), hybrids, within the area of hybridization, show superior survival to non-hybirds.

Pelagic Cormorant

On 22 July 2014 on the Bremerton—Seattle Ferry, Erika and I saw numerous Pelagic Cormorants. The cormorants were a bit more difficult to identify this year than in previous years. Usually you can clearly see a white patch at the hind base of the wing.  This cormorant must be a juvenile. Species identification is bolstered by the relatively straight neck and thin, dark bill.

Pelagic Cormorants are misnamed, because they are not really oceanic birds. The birds prefer inshore areas. they feed mostly on fish and bottom-dwelling invertebrates. These cormorants are found along the coasts of the North Pacific. As are many seabirds, cormorants are threatened by oil spills, gill nets, and environmental contamination.

Wilson’s Snipe

On 26 October 2014, I was happily listing a Killdeer (on the right edge of this photo) on eBird, when I noticed a Wilson’s Snipe resting behind and to the left. No wonder Mueller (1999) describes the abundant snipe as elusive.

In a previous post, I wrote about aspects of snipe behavior and etymology. Suffice to say today that a few snipe occasionally attempt to winter in Minnesota if the birds locate permanent, unfrozen water. Otherwise the Minnesota winter is bleak for this shorebird.

Pigeon Guillemot

On 22 July 2014, Erika and I arrived at the Bremerton—Seattle Ferry dock with about an hour to spare. We walked down the waterfront until Erika decided to return to the car. I continued on and almost missed the ferry for taking photos of Pigeon Guillemots.

Guillemots are small auks that breed on rock coasts in western Siberia and from Alaska to California. They generally feed inshore, diving to the sea floor for fish and invertebrates. Oil pollution, gill-nettering and mammals all threaten guillemots, but the population, on the whole, seems be thriving (Ewins 1993). I have seen Pigeon Guillemots almost every time I have taken the Bremerton Ferry.

Pacific Forktail

On 21 July 2014 our family visited the Hand’s On Children’s Museum in Olympia, Washington. Who knew that I would need my telephoto lens? In the middle of the water lilies in a small, decorative pond flitted a Pacific Forktail, a new damselfly for my list. (Generally we were disappointed in the relatively low numbers of dragonflies observed during our western trip, and this was the last one we saw.)

I had to make do with my short lens, focusing through a glass window, and greatly enlarging the photo—never excellent strategies for producing stunning wildlife photos. At least I had a sunny day! Especially if you enlarge this image on your computer screen, you can see this species’ salient field marks. At least four pale blue spots grace the top of the thorax. No other forktail in the Pacific Northwest sports such spots (Paulson 2009). The urban habitat also fits well. Paulson writes, “in the Northwest, more likely to colonize backyard ponds than other damselflies.”

Rough-skinned Newt

The McLane Creek Nature Trail, near Olympia, was developed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Although only a mile long, the trail winds through forest and wetlands and is a great place for birding. We walked the trail on 20 July 2014.

A new creature for us, however, was not a bird, but this Rough-skinned Newt. This amphibian is common throughout western Washington and along the West Coast. This species is likely to be found out in the day, perhaps because its skin is highly toxic and is avoided by predators. The toxin is the same that is found in pufferfish and can induce paralysis and death. Only the Common Garter Snake can survive eating a Rough-skinned Newt (Washington DNR). The DNR warns that these newts "can be handled safely but care should be taken with small children prone to putting things in their mouths. After handling any amphibian, one should avoid touching the mucus membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth until hands have been washed.” People usually just suffer skin irritation, although one person, on a dare, is reported to have swallowed a Rough-skinned Newt—he died (Wikipedia).

Rough-skinned Newts are usually terrestrial, and move to ponds to breed. A few populations remain in ponds through the summer but migrate back to land in the fall. Others remain in ponds all year. Reproduction is aquatic. Adults breed when they are about five years old, and may breed every other year. Males arrive at ponds, transform into their aquatic phase, and wait for the females. When a female enters the water, males rush to grab her. The successful male hugs her from the back until she is ready to have her eggs fertilized. The male then deposits a sperm sac and she picks it up with her cloaca.  The eggs, which are also toxic, are deposited on submerged plants.  The eggs hatch into larvae, which become terrestrial after about a month, or they may overwinter and transform the next summer (Californaiherps.com).

Hooded Merganser

This young Hooded Merganser rested at the McLane Creek Nature Trail, near Olympia, Washington, on 20 July 2014. Unlike the nearby Wood Ducks (see last post), Hooded Mergansers are single brooded. Males abandon the nest cavities when the females begin incubating. Females are on their nest for about a month. The hatchlings leave the nest within a day of hatching, in response to the females' calling to them. The ducklings feed themselves, even on their first day out. They are capable of diving, but often feed with just their heads underwater. They eat aquatic invertebrates. The young fledge after about 70 days. Banding studies show that some young fly up to 700 km north in the fall before moving south in the winter (Dugger et al. 2009).

Wood Duck

Wood Ducks breed in nest boxes and in tree cavities. They are among the few North American ducks that nest twice in the same season. Often, but not always, this second brood is laid by older females. The second brood is usually smaller than the first. The number of eggs laid by females depends not on her age, but on her weight.

Wood Ducks often lay their eggs in other Wood Ducks’ nests. Hooded Mergansers will also lay their eggs in Wood Duck nests. Rates of this nest parasitism vary, but have been reported in some populations as high has 85% for nests with other Wood Duck eggs and 39% with Hooded Merganser eggs. The rate of parasitism is apparently correlated with how easy it is to see the nest cavity. The average number of eggs in non-parasitized nests is 9 to 12; parasitized nests can host up to an average of 22 (Hepp and Bellrose 2013).

Erika and I photographed this male Wood Duck as it warily eyed us during a stroll in the McLane Creek Nature Trail, near Olympia, Washington, on 20 July 2014.

River Otter

Writing this post, I was surprised to learn that River Otters are found throughout North America. I only knew them from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota. They are, however, rare in some parts of their range, as they are sensitive to pollution, over-trapping, urbanization, and wetland destruction. Reintroductions have been successful in other areas where they have disappeared.

On 19 July 2014, Erika and I visited the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge near Olympia, Washington. Otters burrow near water and can submerge under water for almost eight minutes. This habit makes them somewhat difficult to photograph. Otters eat small fish and various amphibians, crayfish and even turtles (National Geographic).

Review: Beetles of Eastern North America

J. S. B. Haldane, the famous British geneticist, is reputed to have been asked by a theologian about what conclusions the study of evolution might have on the nature of God. Haldane replied, assuming the Lord spent most of his time creating the creatures He liked best, and there being so many beetles on the planet, then the Creator must have “an inordinate fondness for beetles.” Beetles make up to one-fifth of all plant and animal species found in eastern North America.

The Beetles of Eastern North America is written by Arthur V. Evans and published by Princeton University Press in 2014. Naturalists will enjoy this stunning guide. Most of the 560 pages are illustrated with up to four, large, color photographs of various beetles—1500 photographs in the whole book. Each photograph is accompanied by a short paragraph describing the species and a bit about identification, habitat and range. You can take a peek at some of the pages by clicking on the link at the top of this review.

An illustrated key to the most common of the 115 beetle families found in eastern North America begins the accounts. 1409 species are included in this book. The problem is that this total is fewer than 10% of the beetles of the region. Thus this book is more of an introduction to beetles of the East, rather than a field guide. Furthermore, only experts with hand lenses can separate many beetle species. In fact, many beetles lack common names.

Those wishing to learn more about beetles will enjoy this book's introduction. Anatomy, behavior and natural history, and where to find beetles are all covered. Subsequent sections talk about observing, photographing, and collecting beetles—and, if you are really taken by studying beetles, how to keep and rear them in captivity.