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Summer is coming to an end and pretty soon the Rufous hummingbirds will follow their instinct and migrate south to Mexico and further. Right now they're constantly feeding and fighting with the Anna's hummingbirds in order to put on extra weight for their long way south. They make this trip individually, not in the security of a flock, but may be stopping in some places along the way. Most of the males have already left, but at our house we still see a lot of smaller females who may have been...
The red-breasted nuthatch is one of our smaller songbirds at 4-1/4 inches, with a stubby tail and a slightly upturned beak. It's blue-grey above and features a black cap with a white line and a rusty chest. It's the only bird in this area that can climb down a tree headfirst, checking out the tree bark for insects. The nuthatch will also come to bird feeders to feed on sunflower seeds and suet. During springtime, it typically excavates a nest cavity in rotten wood, but will also use nesting...
The short-eared owls are migrating birds visiting this area from October through April. They are not nocturnal birds like other owls, but hunt during daytime hours. They look for voles and field mice in open fields with bordering or scattered shrubs and trees. Their short ear tufts are seldom visible, but their light colored face mask and yellow eyes are good identifiers. You can see them in the Samish Flats in an area that is known to birders as the East 90 and also sometimes on the Padilla...
The Anna's Hummingbirds are year round residents in this region: They expanded from California and don't have the instinct to migrate south. Their habitat is influenced by humans; they enjoy parks and residential neighborhoods with flowers, shrubs, trees and hummingbird feeders. It is important to keep feeders clean and to change sugar water at least once a week, because mold can kill these birds. During extreme cold weather it is essential to keep the liquid thawed, especially early in the morn...
The northern elephant seal named Elsie Mae, who has been known by Deception Pass State Park officials for a few years, gave birth to a pup on Jan. 31. Officials closed the Bowman Bay area to protect the pup from human and pet interference, and to protect humans and pets from a protective mother. Elsie has been used to humans; staff are making an effort to not have the new born imprinted in the same way. Helpful volunteers are on sight to answer many questions. You might find a bird watcher with...
This Cooper’s hawk was watch-ing a family of quails down below! He was determined to get a meal, because when I tried taking his picture, he didn’t fly away, just hid behind some branches. During the breeding season, the Cooper’s has regular feeding routes, and this one stopped by every day for awhile. They feed on medium-size birds, such as doves, jays, starlings and quails and will stop by the birdfeeder like the sharp-shinned hawks do. Both birds look similar, with the Cooper’s being about 5...
