I joined some Birds Connect Seattle (nee Seattle Audubon) walks this month. I enjoyed the walks – I saw more birds than I would have on my own, and visited some Seattle parks that I hadn’t seen before. I did manage to go on some bird walks on my own. I recently got a new large lens (150 – 600mm), and it was good practice.
January 5 – Marymoor
Not actually a new park for me.
January 11 – Carkeek Park
January 19 – Snoqualmie River Valley
I usually drive up to the Skagit Flats to see Trumpeter swans, but I saw on ebird that they were closer – in the Snoqualmie River Valley. So I got up early on a Sunday and drove out to see what I could find. I basically followed my usual bicycle route, and found a flock near Carnation farm
Since it was too foggy to see much, I drove around. I found a hawk, but not many other birds beyond chickadees and bushtits.
Finally, just down a street in Carnation (the town), I found some swans and geese in a field.
I drove back to the bend in the river where I saw the original flock. They were still there, and closer to the bridge.
As I was packing up to leave, I saw a river otter approaching along the bank.
The birds did not like that – I assume otters would grab birds, if they could.
January 25 – Ballard Locks
January 26 – Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
