Dunlin

Dennis Paulson noted under my recent post on Dunlins that this sandpiper is a late fall migrant to Washington. They molt their wings in or near their breeding areas in the world’s Arctic regions before heading south. On 27 October 2021, Erika and I found a large flock of Dunlin resting in the grass at high tide. We estimated that 200 individuals were present, although this count could well be low. So focused was I on the sandpipers, I did not notice the Short-billed Gull loafing behind the Dunlin. Only later did I add the gull to my eBird list.

Common Merganser

22 October 2021 is a bit early for Common Mergansers to be courting, but that appears to be happening here. The species does court early, like the December before the upcoming breeding season. Pairs are presumed to be monogamous during any given season. Erika and I observed these two birds were among about a half-dozen birds off KGY Point north of Olympia. 

Hooded Merganser

Off North Point in Puget Sound on the north edge of Olympia on 22 October 2021, Erika and I saw several Hooded Merganser. As I took photos of this male swimming by with its beak somewhat open, I hoped that I would be able to blog about mergansers' odd, serranted bills. You can ALMOST see these tooth-like structures, lacking in other ducks.  Some ornithologists argue against placing Hooded Mergansers in a separate genus from the other mergansers. In any event, all mergansers are closely related to goldeneyes.

Canvasback

Also present on Capitol Lake on 21 October 2021 were a few Canvasbacks. These ducks show fluctuating population numbers, with high numbers in wet years, and lower numbers during dry ones. Canvasbacks have also benefited from strict hunting regulations. Populations have increased since 1995, appearing to have recovered from a stretch of below average numbers from the late 1970s through 1995. We saw six Canvasbacks during our short census.

Ruddy Duck

In the crowd of newly arrived waterfowl on 21 October 2021 in Capitol Lake, the most interesting were two Ruddy Ducks. We have only observed a few in Olympia depsite Walt et al.’s (2005 assertion that Ruddy Ducks are locally common migrants in western Washington. Ruddy Ducks tend to float with their tails held at an upward angle. Ruddy Ducks are classified with a few other similar species around the world—all falling within a group called stiff-tailed ducks. Just how this group is related to other ducks is open to debate. Some ornithologists consider this group to be a sister group to all of the other ducks, Other researchers place stiff-tailed ducks within the greater assemblage of ducks.

American Coot

On a short stroll to Capitol Lake on 21 October 2021, Erika and I discovered that great numbers of coots have returned. We counted 40. The vanguard of a host of other waterfowl were also present—Ring-necked Ducks, American Wigeon, Canvasbacks, and Lesser Scaup,  among others. The photos I took are pretty, thanks to reflections of fall, bank-side foliage. A few of these images will appear in upcoming posts.

Eurasian Wigeon

Erika and I are always delighted when we spy an Eurasia Wigeon, like this one on 18 October 2021 at the Billy Frank Jr National Wildlife Refuge. These ducks are abundant across the northern climes of the Old World, but, in the winter, are increasingly seen in Canada, the United States, and even northern Mexico. We find them every winter here in Olympia. This October bird is a bit oddly plumaged. I can find no similar photos or illustrations. Perhaps this is a young male or a male emerging from eclipse plumage. A hybrid with an American Wigeon is also a possibility. We took the second photo, of a more typical male, at the refuge on 12 March 2021.

Cackling Goose

During our most recent stroll at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on 18 October 2021, Erika turned to me and said, “Look at all those Cackling Geese!” “Where?” I asked. “You don’t see them? They are right in front of you!” “Oh, wait, maybe I do. I thought they were clods of dirt on a newly plowed field…” Erika shook her head and mused, “No wonder I am doing most of the driving these days.” I did a quick estimate, and came up with 3,000 birds. Then another seven landed in the field. So I guess that would make 3,007. I called the refuge and asked them if my estimate was realistic. They patiently replied,  “At this time of year, 3000 birds is totally reasonable.” 

Rufous Hummingbird

This Rufous Hummingbird image languished in my blog queue since 12 May 2012. Rufous Hummingbirds have departed Olympia for their west Mexican wintering grounds. They breed in the Pacific Northwest north to Alaska. As a result, Alaskan birds enjoy “a short breeding season but the longest day-length seen by any hummingbird” (Healy and Calder 2020).

Red-winged Blackbird

Erika and I encountered a few female Red-winged Blackbirds at the Billy Frank Jr Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on 18 October 2021. These blackbirds are one of the most common North American birds, so we were surprised that we had not listed the species since 3 August. Their absence is a mystery. Although migratory elsewhere, this bird should be present in our area all year. Red-winged Blackbirds owe their abundance to their nesting in large freshwater and saltwater marshes and prairies as well as near lakes, ponds and roadside ditches (Yasukawa and Searcy 2020). Red-winged Blackbirds even breed in urban and suburban habitats and in fallow fields. Most Interstate highway edges provide perfect habitat and facilitate the species’ spread.