Peregrine Falcon

On a visit to the Billy Frank Jr National Wildlife Refuge on 7 February 2022, Erika and I spied a Peregrine Falcon dismembering a duck (perhaps a hen wigeon). Although they employ a variety of hunting strategies, these falcons are famous for their high-speed stoops, knocking their prey out of the air. In previous years, Peregrine Falcons surveyed the refuge from perches high atop a tall, dead tree. But last fall the tree either blew over or was removed by refuge rangers. Since the tree’s demise, we have seen fewer falcons. This bird enjoyed its prey while perched low on a distant bush.

Ring-necked Duck

Ring-necked Ducks are abundant at Olympia’s Capitol Lake. This duck slept near the shore on 23 January 2022. Note the white stripe at the front of the flanks—a good field mark for drakes of this species. Previously I posted about how birds can sleep with one eye open and half the brain awake. That condition apparently at play with this duck. The second is a hen, maybe also asleep, at the Billy Frank Jr National Wildlife Refuge on 21 September 2022.

Western Grebe

Although Western Grebes are considered to be common or locally abundant winter birds in western Washington, Erika and I have only encountered them five times during our first three winters in the Olympia area. We found this one on 10 February 2022 off KGY Point just north of the city.

Raccoon

Erika and I walked the Yelm-Tenino Bike Trail near Rainier on 12 February 2022. Eagle-eyed Erika spotted this Raccoon as it slept high in a tree at the edge of the forest. Erika was disappointed, since she kind of hoped that the lump in the tree was an owl. Raccoons are not our favorite beast. These highly adaptable creatures have moved out of North American woodlands into a variety of habitats, including urban areas. Escaped and introduced Raccoons are also found across Europe and in Japan where they are considered to be pests. Raccoons will eat almost anything. They also transmit rabies. A Raccoon seen foraging in the daytime does not necessarily mean that it is ill, but probably should be avoided. Raccoons also carry trichinosis. If you enjoy roadkill, be sure your Raccoons are well done.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

On our most recent visit to the Kennedy Flats logging road on 1 February 2022 in nearby Mason County, Erika and I listed several Red-breasted Sapsuckers. One obligingly flew up to us and perched on a nearby bush branch. Perhaps we were new for the bird’s People List. These woodpeckers are common enough in the summer, but are uncommon in the winter. As I have previously written, these birds feed on tree sap, so their winter distribution depends on flowing sap. Unsurprisingly, eBird indicated that Red-breasted Sapsuckers are infrequently reported in early February in Mason County.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglets are common summer residents that are augmented by migrants in the winter. They flit around so much that taking photos can be challenging. Almost all my images are of birds that I am banding. Thus I was delighted to capture this wild bird on 3 February 2022 along the shore of Capitol Lake. I suspect that this individual is a female because there does not appear to be any bright orange color in the crown. A male’s orange crown, however, can be difficult to see, even when the bird is in hand.

Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Ducks are fairly common migrants and winter residents along the Washington coast and in Puget Sound. I don’t see them very often. They prefer relatively deep, open water. When I retired, I took the time to enter my birding records into eBird. My early records tend to include only birds that were new for me. More recently, eBird includes almost all the birds I see. I checked my Long-tailed Duck records and was surprised to learn that I have only seen this species on seven occasions. The first time was in Maryland on 16 April 1965. The most recent was on 1 February 2022, after reading in eBird that Long-tailed Ducks were being reported at nearby Tolmie State Park. Three birds floated far away, but I found them relatively easily with my new scope. Switching over to my telephoto lens proved somewhat more challenging. Just for the record, the other bird in this image is probably a Pelagic Cormorant.

American Bittern

Sometimes you can stand right in front of an American Bittern and not see it. On 26 January 2022, a fellow birder at the Nisqually national wildlife refuge told us that a bittern was hanging around along the edge of a creek. I looked where he pointed and, only then did I saw something move. The bird is even hard to see in my photos. Bitterns are common, but so elusive that comparatively little is known about bittern biology. Bittern populations are declining as wetlands are destroyed or degraded across North America.

Surf Scoter

A Surf Scoter wished us adieu as we left the Ocean Shore beach on 29 January 2022. Wintering Surf Scoters consume bottom-dwelling invertebrates, including crustaceans, polychaetes, bivalves, herring spawn and gastropods (Anderson et al. 2929). This sea duck is also abundant in our home waters of Puget Sound.

Western Gull

Eagles were not the only crab-eaters along the Ocean Shores Beach on 29 January 2022. As with the eagles, gulls are opportunistic eaters, consuming almost anything edible that they encounter. My guess is that this bird is a Western Gull. Note the relatively dark back, robust bill, and black, white-tipped flight feathers. Beware, however, that in western Washington, Western and Glaucous-winged Gulls hybridize, thus few genetically pure individuals inhabit the region.