Notes from the Field (Spring 2016):
Date: May 27, 2016
Location: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Dave Murnen and Dianna Moore.
Raptor Count:
| Bald Eagle |
10 adult,
6 immatures
|
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Bald Eagle |
M/R |
Banded eagle!
Dan Varland photo.
A closer look through a spotting scope revealed that this was M/R, an adult male we saw near his banding location on the Long Beach Peninsula on May 5. The blood around his mouth and on his leg is an indication that he was feeding not long before our encounter today (we saw a fresh seal pup carcass not far from this location).
Dianna Moore photo.
Our observation today marks the second time we have re-sighted M/R at Ocean Shores; today's observation was 23.3 miles north of where he was banded and the other nearly 10 miles further north.
Common Ravens at a Guadalupe Fur Seal carcass.
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
We collected this carcass and provided it to Dyanna Lamborne of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network for necropsy. Guadalupe Fur Seals are uncommon visitors off the Washington coast.
Dan Varland photo.
Miles away from the feeding ravens, we saw this pair of love birds allopreening. Allopreening is behavior where one bird preens another of the same species. In paired adults such as these ravens it helps strengthen pair bonds.
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
Date: May 5, 2016
Location: Long Beach
Observers: Dan Varland, Tom Rowley, and Glenn Marquardt.
Raptor Count:
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Bald Eagle |
M/R |
Banded Snowy Plover at the far north end of the Long Beach Peninsula. We reported the observation to Bill Ritchie, a wildlife biologist with Willapa National Wildlife Refuge who monitors this federally threatened species on the peninsula.
Tom Rowley photo.
Tom Rowley photo.
Banded Bald Eagle. Sunlight reflecting off this band made it impossible to read the code through the camera's eye. Using a spotting scope we did better, identifying this eagle as M/R. Coastal Raptors banded M/R, an adult male, 1.5 miles north of this location on April 12, 2012. Today's re-sighting marks the 11th since he was banded. Most re-sightings have been made close to his banding location. One notable exception is
a re-sighting on March 10, 2014 when he was re-sighted twice on the same day at two locations nearly 18 miles apart.
Tom Rowley photo.
Date: April 27, 2016
Location: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Dianna Moore, Deb Raymond and Anna Coles.
Raptor Count:
| Bald Eagle |
Peregrine Falcon |
6 adults,
2 imatures
|
2 immatures |
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Bald Eagle |
B/O |
| Peregrine Falcon |
P/7 |
Individuals Banded:
The Privateer, a shrimp boat that went aground on April 15, is still off shore.
Dan Varland photo.
A member of the salvage crew ties lines to the boat.
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
The lines run ashore to this pickup operated by Global Dive and Salvage.
Dan Varland photo.
We ran across this partially scavenged Laysan Albatross.
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
We captured and banded this male Peregrine Falcon.
Deb Raymond photo.
A hooded falcon is a calm falcon.
Deb Raymond photo.
Hoods are especially handy during weighing.
Deb Raymond photo.
Dianna holds the falcon while I get a close-up shot of the bands.
Deb Raymond photo.
Dan Varland photo.
A/8 had two damaged tail feathers, including the one shown here.
Dan Varland photo.
Away!
Deb Raymond photo.
Date: April 22, 2016
Location: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Tom Rowley, and Dianna Moore.
Raptor Count:
| Bald Eagle |
Peregrine Falcon |
Merlin |
7 adults,
2 imatures
|
1 adult,
1 imature
|
1
(age uncertain)
|
Boat founders just north of the jetty. This shrimp boat, The Privateer, ran aground here on April 15. The Coast Guard rescued the crew of three.
Tom Rowley photo.
Global Dive and Salvage was on hand with this vehicle to pick up debris that washed ashore.
Tom Rowley photo.
Immature peregrine that we saw but were unable to capture.
Tom Rowley photo.
We caught a brief look at this adult peregrine before it flew east over the dunes.
Tom Rowley photo.
Coyote.
Tom Rowley photo.
Raven feeds on gull carcass.
Tom Rowley photo.
Tom Rowley photo.
Banded raven! It wasn't until Tom looked closely at his photos after the survey that he noticed this raven had a band. Coastal Raptors is the only group banding ravens anywhere close to the coast, and since ravens are non-migratory this individual is no doubt one of ours. We apply wraparound plastic color bands to each leg in addition to the USGS silver band still present on this bird. We use a soldering iron to melt the plastic to seal the bands shut. This raven broke the seals and got the bands off.
Tom Rowley photo.
Date: April 11, 2016
Location: Long Beach
Observers: Dan Varland, Tom Rowley, Sandra Miller and Suzanne Staples.
Raptor Count:
| Bald Eagle |
1 adult,
1 imature
|
Ravens feed at a sea lion carcass during the northbound portion of our survey, 12:38 PM.
Tom Rowley photo.
At 3:08 PM, driving south past the same carcass, Tom took this photo of a Bald Eagle and raven feeding.
Tom Rowley photo.
Caspian Tern.
Tom Rowley photo.
At the Ocean Park beach access, we saw these Caspian Terns at creek's edge.
Tom Rowley photo.
We submitted our sighting of the
banded tern to Bird Research Northwest.
Tom Rowley photo.
Whimbrel.
Tom Rowley photo.
Black-bellied Plovers and Sanderlings.
Tom Rowley photo.
Date: March 19, 2016
Location: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Dale Larson, Phil Olafsen and Michelle De Beauchamp.
Raptor Count:
| Bald Eagle |
Peregrine Falcon |
Merlin |
3 adults,
2 imatures
|
2 adults |
1 adult |
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Peregrine Falcon |
R/6 |
| Common Raven |
ROYLGS |
| Bald Eagle |
B/O |
Fishing for surf perch north of Ocean Shores.
Dan Varland photo.
Bald Eagle with visual identification band B/O. Coastal Raptors captured and banded this eagle 3.7 miles north of this location on
June 12, 2015.
Dan Varland photo.
Sand salamander sighting!
Dan Varland photo.
Adult male merlin. .
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
Date: March 12, 2016
Location: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, John Larson, Pete and Leslie Strong, Tom Rowley, Chrissy Williams, and Lisa Dick.
Raptor Count:
| Bald Eagle |
Peregrine Falcon |
6 adults,
4 imatures
|
2 adults |
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Peregrine Falcon |
Z/V |
| Peregrine Falcon |
R/6 |
| Bald Eagle |
D/2 |
| Bald Eagle |
U/O |
The survey vehicle. Copalis Rocks are in the background.
Tom Rowley photo.
Peregrine Falcon R/6 does some bird watching of her own!
Tom Rowley photo.
Bald Eagles at the water's edge. The banded bird is D/2,
a female we banded as a 3-year-old on May 5, 2014. Still retaining brown feathers in head and tail, D/2 will be five years old this spring. Most Bald Eagles reach adult plumage, with completely with head and tail, in five years. D/2 is right on track.
Tom Rowley photo.
Bald Eagle feeding at Harbor Seal carcass.
Tom Rowley photo.
He was not alone! Behind the eagle are two ravens and an immature eagle.
Tom Rowley photo.
Our survey vehicle headed north.
Tom Rowley photo.
The second time we passed by the seal carcass ravens were in feeding.
Tom Rowley photo.
Tom Rowley photo.
Bald Eagle perched near the seal carcass while the ravens were feeding. This banded eagle is U/O, an adult female we banded on June 9, 2012.
In 2014, Connie Kingsbury found U/O nesting near her home on the bay side of the Ocean Shores peninsula; her mate was also banded.
Tom Rowley photo.
Date: March 6, 2016
Location: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Dave Murnen, Mary Kay Kenney, Philip Kenney, Joe Barnes, Glenn Marquardt, Dan Miller and Sandra Miller.
Raptor Count:
| Bald Eagle |
Peregrine Falcon |
7 adults,
3 imatures,
1 age uncertain
|
1 adult,
1 immature,
1 age uncertain
|
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Peregrine Falcon |
P/7 |
| Peregrine Falcon |
R/6 |
Today's survey included, L to R: Joe Barnes, Sandra Miller, Dan Miller, Dan Varland, Dave Murnen, Kenney, Mary Kay Kenney, and Glenn Marquardt.
This group got caught in a rain squall! We were fortunate to be in our vehicles when it hit!
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
Dan Varland photo.
This photo and the one preceding it were taken less than one minute apart!
Dan Varland photo.
Peregrine Falcon R/6 drying her tail!
Dan Varland photo.
R/6 perching for photos.
Dan Varland photo.
Mary Kay Kenney calms Peregrine Falcon P/7 with a hat.
P/7 was captured and banded on November 2, 2015. In November, we inadvertently forgot to collect feather samples. Today offered a perfect opportunity to get those samples!
Dan Varland photo.
Joe Barnes explains our sampling procedure.
Dan Varland video
Joe collects the samples.
Dan Varland photo.
Date: March 5, 2016
Location: Long Beach
Observers: Dan Varland, Mary Kay Kenney, Philip Kenney, Larry Warwick, Joe Barnes and Glenn Marquardt.
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Peregrine Falcon |
U/2 |
| Common Raven |
RSYLGO |
Razor clammer.
Dan Varland photo.
Lots of razor clamers! That's North Head in the background. This headland marks the southern boundary of the peninsula. We saw diggers from one end of the peninsula to the other.
Dan Varland photo.
Merlin perched at the edge of the dunes, away from the clam crowd. This was a 'Black Merlin', the darkest of the three North American subspecies. It's not often that we see a Black Merlin on a beach survey.
Dan Varland photo.
Date: March 2, 2016
Location: Ocean Shores
Observers: Dan Varland, Rocio Crespo, Heather Skinner, Carolyn Fitterer, Tom Rowley, Chrissy Williams and Angelo Bruscas.
Raptor Count:
| Bald Eagle |
Peregrine Falcon |
Northern Harrier |
8 adults,
3 imatures
|
2 adults,
1 imature
|
1 |
Marked Individuals Observed:
| Species |
Color Marker Code |
| Peregrine Falcon |
P/7 |
| Peregrine Falcon |
R/6 |
| Peregrine Falcon |
Z/V |
| Bald Eagle |
U/O |
Peregrine Falcon R/6 watching us as we watch her!
Tom Rowley photo.
R/6 scratching where it itches!
Tom Rowley photo.
Dunlin and Sanderlings (lighter plumage).
Tom Rowley photo.
The banded eagle is U/O, an adult female Coastal Raptors captured and banded 2.2 miles north of this location on Jun 9, 2012. The smaller male next to her likely is her mate. In 2014, U/O was found nesting on the harbor side of the Ocean Shores peninsula with M/D, a male Coastal Raptors banded on March 18, 2012.
Tom Rowley photo.
To learn about Coastal Raptors research efforts, joining us from Washington State University were veterinary students Carolyn Fitterer (white) and Heather Skinner (purple) with Professor Dr. Rocio Crespo. Dr. Crespo teaches at the College of Veterinary Medicine's Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab in Puyallup, Washington.
Tom Rowley photo.