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October 21, 2006

Eight of us enjoyed a terrific day of birding over here in Kitsap County. With a beautiful sunny day and enthusiastic participants, it was an easy task for this rookie leader. We started off the morning hours in the northern part of Kitsap County visiting such places as Foulweather Bluff Nature Preserve, Driftwood Keys (a big hit!), Point no Point, Buck Lake, and Eglon. In the afternoon we visited a few spots on Bainbridge Island.

Although we didn't come across any major rarities, we tallied some 92 species for the day and managed some terrific looks at some "Kitsap County targets". Oh yes, the fact that most of the participating birders were looking to add new county birds to their lists made my "job" easier. Highlights for the day included:

Orcas - At Eglon (3 miles south of Point no Point) we enjoyed watching a pod of Orcas. With numerous jumping Chum salmon they must be enjoying a feast in Puget Sound at this time; Eared Grebe - One at Manzanita Bay on Bainbridge Island gave us some nice close looks and a good comparison to nearby Horned Grebes; California Quail - Amazingly not an easy bird to see in Kitsap County. A whole covey (10+) perched-up in a blackberry patch in Driftwood Keys; Merlin - One attacking a flock of Starlings at Driftwood Keys at very close range. Quite a site! The only thing that would have made it better is if it would have been successful; Thayer's Gull - A highlight for me anyway. One seen at the pilings at the end of Twin Spits Road was a new county year-bird for me; Northern Shrike - One in the fading daylight at our last stop along Lovgreen Road on Bainbridge Island. This was actually a "staked-out" bird, but given the time of day I had given up hope of re-finding it. A nice find by Matt Dufort in a shrub quite close to the road while the rest of us are starting to say our good -bys. A nice way to end the day.

We were fortunate to see all of the expected woodpeckers including a cooperative Red-breasted Sapsucker that we could almost touch. Both expected accipiters, all three species of cormorants and scoters, and great looks at both Wood Duck and Harlequin Duck were included in the day's fun.