Tacoma Streaming

Chasing the Black-tailed Gull yesterday along Marine View Drive, Tacoma

Every now and then, we have to step away from the routine, from the work and running and projects around the house, and venture out to chase a rare bird visitor. Yesterday was one of those days, when we joined with birding friends in chasing an Asian visitor bird, a Black-tailed Gull, along Marine View Drive on the east side of Commencement Bay in Tacoma.

Despite the dreary weather with threatening rain, the bird was there - a new "life bird" for Natalie and me, practically right here in our own back yard.

It was an hour well spent, and we were impressed with the fitting tribute to Dick Gilmur at this memorial birding pull out along the busy road.

Species from 12 hours of birding at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma

I spent 12 hours over a 24- hour period birding in the upland areas of Point Defiance Park as part of the Bioblitz event this weekend. Here is what I saw:

1. Bald Eagle
2. Glacous-winged Gull
3. Band-tailed Pigeon
4. Vaux's Swift
5. Anna's Hummingbird
6. Rufous Hummingbird
7. Northern Flicker
8. Downy Woodpecker
9. Pileated Woodpecker
10. Olive-sided Flycatcher
11. Western Wood-Pewee
12. Pacific-slope Flycatcher
13. Hutton's Vireo
14. Steller's Jay
15. American Crow
16. Common Raven
17. Violet-green Swallow
18. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
19. Bushtit
20. Red-breasted Nuthatch
21. Pacific Wren
22. Bewick's Wren
23. Swainson's Thrush
24. American Robin
25. Orange-crowned Warbler
26. Yellow-rumped Warbler
27. Yellow Warbler
28. Wilson's Warbler
29. Western Tanager
30. Spotted Towhee
31. White-crowned Sparrow
32. Dark-eyed Junco
33. Black-headed Grosbeak
34. Red Crossbill
35. American Goldfinch
36. Pine Siskin
37. Evening Grosbeak

Not bad, considering I couldn't count any water birds off the western bluffs or Owen's Beach, and I didn't get to count the dabbling ducks in the ponds at the park entrance, since I only had wooded areas and the bluffs.