USA, USA, USA

Band-tailed Pigeon

We ended our Canadian year on the 29th December 2012 as that was the day we left Vancouver on a bus and crossed the border to the south, enterin the United States of America. We arrived in the Washington city of Seattle. First impression? It's like Canada but 'bigger'......

We stayed at the Redmond Inn and very nice it was too. The reason why this particular hotel was chosen was that it was reasonably close [and cheap] to a birder whom we had met and hosted previously; one Barry Brugman. Barry had travelled to Australia quite insatiably over the last decade and on one of his trips stayed at Mapleton with us.

At any rate he kindly offered to return the favour. And on our first day in the US Barry took me birding and his wonderful wife Christina offered to play tour guide fo Megan and the kids.

Anyway enough about Megan and the kids' day and back with the birding.

I was keen to begin my US list and it started well in Barry's garden with excelelent views of Anna's Hummer, spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees, Juncos and Pine Siskins.

We left for a Backyard feeder where some Band-tailed Pigeons were known to congregate. The spot payed off with some twenty birds were perched and waiting. Not a lifer but the next best thing as I had only seen this species quite porrly in flight while driving on Vancouver Island. I was driving not the birds.

Next spot was some sea watching where there was an outside chance for Ancient Murrelet which was recorded from time to time. The Murrelet didn't show however some Scoters - Black and Surf - did. Also Pacific Loons, Pigeon Guillemots, Red-necked Grebes and DC plus Pelagic Cormorants.

Horned Grebe

A nearby Salmon spawning site was pretty birdy; Downy WP, N Flicker, Bewicks Wren, RC Kinglet, Song and Fox Sparrow plus the ubiquitous chickadees and Juncos. A Varied Thrush was a nice find along with a few robins.


A drive to the north revealed great numbers and views of Snow Geese plus smaller numbers of Canada Goose and A Wigeon.

A smiling Barry Brugman with a swarm of Snow Geese in the background.

Hairy Woodpecker

Another noticable stop was at a feeding station which announced it self with a special sign [see below]. Birds in attendence included Song, Fox, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Juncos, BC & CB Chickadees, Downy and Hairy Woodpecker and N Flicker.

Our last area for the day was a large area of delta. flat irrigated farm land and natural wetlands and grasslands. Here waas excellent habitat for waterfowl and raptors plus blackbirds. Many RT Hawks and N Harriers plus about 3 Short-eared Owls were seen.

All in all about 56 spp were seen on day one - not a bad start for a winterery day. the following day Megan and I took the kids down to the waterfront area of down town Seattle. We also spent some time at Green Park in a northern suburb. Here there was a variety of waterfowl, especially coot, Mallard, Gadwall, Common and Hooded Merganser, Mew, Ring-billed and GW Gull.

Good grassland habitat

Gadwall at Green Lake in Seattle