This Rufous Hummingbird visits our garden every summer and perches on the same treetop. Then he migrates on, as far south as Mexico.
Watching birds, and learning about them, has brought comfort and joy to many of us during this pandemic. It’s easier to identify a bird standing on a branch or foraging on the ground. Birds in flight are more challenging because they fly so quickly and they display more feathers. I try to never disturb birds, so all of the birds here were photographed flying past me.
A Bald Eagle stole some entrails from two river otters who were feasting on a boulder in the sea by North Beach.A Turkey Vulture flew above Point Wilson in May on its migration north for the summer.The Belted Kingfisher hovers before plunging headfirst into the sea to grab small fish.The Osprey also hovers, but plunges feet first to grab a fish. Notice its yellow eyes.
This Glaucous-winged Gull from Indian Island hopes to eat a Nuttall’s Cockle. Gulls and crows hover to drop smaller clams and crabs onto rocks to break them into digestible pieces. This Cooper’s Hawk seemed surprised to see me walking along Cape George beach early one morning.The Great Blue Herons always seem so serious as they patrol our beaches. Their prey includes not only fish, but also marine invertebrates, small mammals, and birds, and away from the beaches they also seek out amphibians and reptiles.American Wigeons love to gather in Irondale, near the mouth of Chimacum Creek. It’s fun to watch them dabbling to gather plants and to listen to their noisy chattering.This male Hooded Merganser fans his crest to attract females at Kah Tai Lagoon. Another good place to see them is Chinese Gardens Lagoon.
