[Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - July 2022

[Carol Riddell]

Hi Tweets,

A belated report from Edmonds for July. We reached 164 species, about six behind this same time  last year. The new species we have added to the Edmonds year list are:

Semipalmated Sandpiper (code 3), 1 at the marsh, 7-1-22

Red Crossbill (code 3), 8 in central Edmonds, 7-5-22

California Scrub-Jay (code 4), 1 in the Edmonds Lake Ballinger neighborhood, 7-10-22

Semipalmated Plover (code 3), 1 at the marsh, 7-20-22

Lesser Yellowlegs (code 4), 1 at the marsh, 7-24-22

Cassin’s Auklet (code 4), 1 on the waterfront, 7-31-22

After a Brown Pelican (code 4) was seen in June near the ferry dock, 1-2 birds appeared in July and were resting on the marina’s south breakwater for the month (and continuing into August). This is an unusual occurrence as the species has been a fly-by in the past.

Late Reports: A Cassin’s Vireo (code 3) was seen in the Lake Ballinger neighborhood 4-23-22. Purple Martins (code 3) arrived on the waterfront 4-25-22. A Barn Owl (code 5) has also been seen several times in flight on the Edmonds side of the Interurban Trail starting 5-5-22. A Green Heron (code 3) flew over a birder’s yard in the Lake Ballinger neighborhood, 5-25-22.

We reviewed an eBird report of unusual Edmonds species and declined to add them to our year list at this time. These were single reports by a birder we were unable to contact. The checklist carried no description of critical field marks, nothing about the quality of the observation, and no photograph. We don’t know if these were data entry errors, misidentifications, or good calls. Those species were Blue-winged Teal (code 3), Sora (code 5), and Short-billed Dowitcher (code 4) at the marsh. Others at the marsh that day did not report any of these species. Similar conclusions for Black Swift (code 4) and Ring-billed Gull (a very challenging code 3 in Edmonds) on the waterfront. Ring-billed Gulls are unusual on an exposed waterfront and immature California Gulls in summer and immature Short-billed Gulls in winter can easily be mistaken as Ring-billed Gulls if all field marks are not noted. If any eBirder updates their checklist with details, please let me know so we can add your species to our list. Thanks!

As always, I appreciate it when birders get in touch with me to share sightings, photos, or audio. It helps us build our collective year list. If you would like a copy of our 2022 city checklist, please request it from checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. If eBirders will use the details field for unusual Edmonds birds, it will help us build the city year list. Photographs or recordings are also helpful. The 2022 checklist is posted in the bird information box at the Visitor Station at the base of the public pier and is up to date through July.

Good birding,

Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA

Abundance codes: (1) Common, (2) Uncommon, (3) Harder to find, usually seen annually, (4) Rare, 5+ records, (5) Fewer than 5 records