Autumn is bringing winter southward. I've found that one way to stay aware of the changes is to keep a journal. Another is to keep a dedicated calendar. For example, today, I saw a female Downy Woodpecker and female Northern Flicker at my suet feeder and they became calendar entries. After a full year, you will begin to see a 'parade of species': like when the Russula Mushrooms sprout under the Douglas Firs, when the Black-Tailed Deer fawns have lost their spots, when the Coho Salmon have returned, and so on...
One of the great seasonal changes occurring now is the fall migration of birds. On October 27, I went to Birch Bay and a few miles further north to Semiahmoo Spit (which protects a bay on the US-Canada border) to observe the return of waterfowl that had summered in the Arctic. If you live along the coast in Oregon or California, you may see some these same birds later this fall or winter. I feel both awe and wonder when I think of their annual round-trip journeys!
One familiar sight right now is V formations of Canada Geese. I recently came back from a road trip and saw large V flights of Canada Geese in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Many Canada Geese, however, will stay as resident populations. Our Canada Geese will be joined by thousands of Trumpeter Swans, Snow Geese and Black Brants (a small goose) in November.
(Please note, these photos were made with a camera, held up to a spotting scope.)
Canada Geese preening and foraging for eel grass
that has washed ashore.
- more than 90 at Birch Bay -
This day, I talked to an 'old timer' from Birch Bay. She told me that the numbers of migratory ducks and geese and shore birds has been declining since she started watching in the 1970s. Later, another birder at Semiahmoo told me the same thing. Our journals can help provide an historical perspective that is desperately needed for ecological awareness.
Canada Goose preening
One of the seasonal changes that can be seen is the change in plumage. The brilliant feathers of the breeding season are being replaced with non-breeding, winter plumage... more subdued and probably providing more camouflage. I found it interesting that the males who still had their breeding colors were conspicuously still paired with their mates. On the other hand, males in winter plumage or juvenile plumage were sometimes in flocks of mixed species.
If you wish to learn to identify these birds, it is important that your field guide has pictures of both breeding and non-breeding phases. I suggest a regional field guide if you are new to an area, not an 'all-the-birds' book. Comprehensive field guides include many species you may never see. For those who live in this area, I recommend Birds of the Puget Sound Region, by Morse, Aversa, and Opperman.
Dabbling Ducks: Among the dabbling ducks I saw this day were Pintails, Mallards, and American Wigeons.
Northern Pintail Duck
The Pintail is a dabbler, not a diver. It feeds on water plants by dipping its head down under, with its tail sticking up. Like other dabbling ducks, they feed in the shallows. Other dabblers seen this day were Mallards and American Wigeons. You are more likely to see the dabbling ducks closer to the shore, in the more shallow water.
American Wigeons at Semiahmoo
American Wigeons at Birch Bay's Creek
Diving Ducks: Like the name says, diving ducks are at home swimming under water for food. Many eat crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. Harlequin ducks frequent marine environments like these in the winter, but move into mountains - inland and north - in breeding season. If I had to pick one duck as the most beautiful, I would choose the Harlequin. This day, I also saw a mated pair of Golden-Eye Ducks and a mated pair of Buffleheads. Both species are also diving ducks.
Harlequin Ducks
Diving Sea Ducks: This day at Semiahmoo, I saw Scaups and Scoters...ducks at home in a marine environment. I still cannot distinguish a Greater Scaup from a Lesser Scaup, so lets just say that I saw fewer than ten scaups. Large flocks of scoters rafting at Birch Bay and Semiahmoo both numbered over one-hundred.
Surf Scoters
Surf Scoters showing white nape spot
White-Winged Scoters
White secondary feathers show in the spread wing display
Pair Bonding Displays: Many species of ducks maintain their pair bonds even when breeding season is over. It was fascinating to watch mated-pair-strengthening behaviors in both Mallards and in White-Winged Scoters. I watched one Mallard pair bobbing their heads in unison. Another Mallard pair and White-Winged Scoter pair did a 'dance' that went something like this: Head Dip in Water (HDW)-HDW-HDW-HDW, followed by rising up out of the water and flapping wings. (See above.) This was followed by the male and female 'pair swimming'.
Loons and Grebes: Loons are not related to ducks and geese (Anatidae) but belong to a different avian family, Gaviidae. They are a good indicator species for polluted water. They require pristine waters for breeding and nesting. They are amazing divers, staying underwater up to a minute, while making dives of over one-hundred feet. All the loons I saw were in their non-breeding plumage.
Common Loon
Non-Breeding Plumage
Non-Breeding Plumage
Loon fishing
Loon eating its catch, probably a crustacean
Grebes: The grebes are also diving birds. This day, they were actively fishing. They were also in their winter plumage.
Western Grebe
Horned Grebe - Winter Plumage
Shore Birds: The Dunlins, a kind of sandpiper, are gathering in flocks. Their breeding grounds were on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, 2,500 miles to the north of the US-Canada border. They are always in motion, running along the shore, flying in tight flock formation every minute or so. The amount of energy expended must be incredible. Some of that energy will be transformed as they become prey to Peregrine Falcons and Merlins.
Dunlin
Small Flock of Dunlins
about 120 - 140 birds
The Ever Adaptable Crow: Of course, I saw crows. Two excellent books on these scrappy, intelligent, social, opportunistic birds are: In the Company of Crows and Ravens, by John M. Marzluff and Tony Angell and Crow Planet, by Lyanda Lynn Haupt.
American Crow
Questions or Comments?: rogersfieldjournal@yahoo.com
