[Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - October 2022

[Carol Riddell]

Hi Tweets,

We ended October with 185 species for the 2022 year list. Here are the new species:


Brewer’s Blackbird (code 3), 1 adult male on a utility line with several Red-winged Blackbirds near the west end of Puget Drive, 10-8-22.

Short-tailed Shearwater (code 4), 1 from the waterfront, 10-14-22.

Northern Shrike (code 3), 1 at the marsh, 10-15-22.

Western Meadowlark (code 3), 1 at Marina Beach, 10-23-22.

Late report: Black-bellied Plover (code 4), 2 at the marsh, 9-11-22. This is such an unusual sighting in the marsh that we took the time to obtain documentation that was lacking in the original eBird checklist. They were seen among a large gathering of Killdeers.

Other Activity: Two White-throated Sparrows in a yard west of Pine Ridge Park for several days starting 10-3-22. Two Great Horned Owls were in a birder’s yard in north Edmonds, 10-6-22. There were sightings of single California Scrub-Jays in two yards, one west of Pine Ridge Park, 10-3-22, and one on the west end of Puget Drive, 10-7-22. One photo-documented immature Ring-billed Gull at Water Street, 10-8-22. Many other reports, including an eye-popping 150 Ring-billed Gulls at Haines Wharf (where there have been that number of California Gulls lately), and none documented. We can only assume that these continue to be mistaken reports based on sightings of immature California Gulls and perhaps some Short-billed Gulls as they are increasing in numbers for the winter. A second Horned Lark at Marina Beach, 10-23-22 and continuing for several days. A second Western Meadowlark at Water Street, 10-26-22.

We are not adding Herring Gull or Iceland Gull at this time, These are both code 4 birds on the Edmonds waterfront and there are lots of errors in gull reports. No report of either gull was documented with a photo, description of field marks, or a recording. We are also holding off on Long-tailed Duck since this has become a difficult species to find in Edmonds. We are not confident in undocumented sightings. If you think you are seeing a Long-tailed Duck, please help us by providing details of critical field marks or a photo if possible.

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 October.

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