Temp in the 40s, overcast, light rain all day, wind S turning to SE 5-15 mph
With the strong NW winds the past day-and-a-half, we expected to find new birds. We did, just not rarities (but they are probably here somewhere…).
Still nothing new at the feeders, but the Thrush Feeder has a dozen rosy-finches.
At the Seawall, we saw a pair of Red-throated Loons. Only the fifth time for us out here.
The mother Red-breasted Merganser was still minding her young (singular). Here is a slightly better photo of the young bird (taken through the rain).
On the east side of Clam Lagoon we had our first Emperor Geese for the year (we missed them in May). There were four birds.
The number of Ruddy Turnstones is up this year. We are finding flocks at Landing Lights, the Seawall, and around Clam Lagoon.
I did not walk the marsh edge today, so do not know if the marsh Sandpiper is still here.
Pectoral Sandpipers are starting to show up in any roadside puddles with a little bit of vegetation. Typical in the fall.
Later in the afternoon, as we were pulling out of our driveway, a Common Raven was sitting on the back of the pickup truck next door. Did you know the Common Raven is the largest passerine in the world? And the Kamchatka subspecies (what we have out here) is the largest subspecies?
The Marine landing has been a fizzle so far. When we were up at the Blue Building Feeder, we saw one landing craft speeding towards NavFac Beach. When we got down there a few hours later, there were a dozen-or-so Marines standing around with a couple of Humvees, two fuel trucks, and a navy bulldozer working on the beach. We weren’t sure whether the dozer was repairing damage or preparing for a larger contingent tomorrow.
We will see.
It was a miserable day with the constant rain. Usually, the rains out here are intermittent, making it bearable. But every once in a while, we get one of these days…
The Trip List is 44 (54 is average) and the Year List is 80 (82 is average).
Today’s eBird checklist is at: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59915487