Spencer Island Refuge, Snohomish County Everett, WA

Weather forecast?

Dense clouds and intermittent rain bursts - yes. Today had a rainy start but a terrific early afternoon ending to meeting my new f2f (face to face) Facebook friend Kate T.





Kate looking for the Sora we heard at Spencer Island Refuge





 



In September Kate & I discussed meeting to birdwatch but the rain became unsurmountable but eventually we both decided to get together come rain, snow or the dark of night. We met, and set out to see some birds!  Yes, that's right - we are bird geeks and love to watch birds!



Example of "A" birder type personality disorder - the "Bird Geekette" who seeks birds come rain or shine!



Great Blue Heron

Song Sparrow

Bald Eagle - Female

Bald Eagle - Male

Spencer Island is a wildlife refuge of reclaimed land that has been turned into a fresh & salt water mixed marsh just north of the mouth of the Snohomish River.

Today was NOT especially forgiving for observing flycatchers, warblers, and sparrows but eventually the rain stopped and the flies and mosquitoes started buzzing around. The bird activity level elevated as they readily gobbling up protein, became more visible, and audible.

The near 4-mile trek took us around the marsh, islands and along the Snohomish River,  where hundreds of crew enthusiasists gathered south of Spencer Island to cheer for thier favorite rowing teams during the warm up races.



Crew Team practicing along Snohomish River near Spencer Island Refuge



All rowing aside, the birding was marginally successful given the weather conditions and the following list is the compilation of bird species that Kat & I observed at Spencer Island in Snohomish County, near the city of Everett, WA. 

Kat spotted another Bald Eagle and gulls near the Port of Everett, but they are not included on this list.

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Mallard "Swedish" Duck Hybrid

Green-winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

Ruddy Duck

California Quail (H)

Pied-billed Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Styrafoam garbage shaped like a Great Egret :-D

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-Tailed Hawk

Merlin ( Dark morph)

Sora (H) RARE

American Coot

Clapper Rail (H) RARE

Killdeer

Short-billed Dowitcher

Little Gull (new Life List bird) RARE

Bonaparte's Gull

Mew Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Western Gull

Mew x Western Gull Hybrid

Glaucous-winged Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove (H)

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Steller's Jay

American Crow

Northwestern Crow

Tree Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Bushtit

Red-breasted Nuthatch (H)
Bewick's Wren

House Wren

Winter Wren

Marsh Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler "Myrtle's"

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow "Pacific sooty"

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco "Oregon"

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer's Blackbird

House Finch

American Goldfinch

Evening Grosbeak

House Sparrow

Total 59 species



Little Gull - Image courtesy of Ohio Ornithological Society







Merlin - Image courtesy of D. Bruce Volton





Sora - Image courtesy of Ann Nightengale, BC Christmas Bird Count





Yellow-rumped Warbler "Myrtle's" - Image courtesy of  www.science.smith.edu



Hey, hey named a street after me in Everett, and they have good mexican food downtown too.