Wild Fidalgo

I am in the midst of my annual Pacific Rhododendron photo hikes  in Deception Pass State Park.  These wild, native rhodies are blooming now providing some incongruous color to favored Pacific Northwest forests.  Usually, I encounter more than flowers on these hikes.  Yesterday, after visiting the rhododendron grove, I continued up the Goose Rock Summit Trail.  Along the way, I met a pair of Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura), Washington's only native dove. These extremely wary birds always flee in terror when humans approach.  While one flew off into the trees, its mate perched on the trail uphill from me long enough for a photo. Until about two years ago, Mourning Doves were daily visitors in my garden.  I suspect they nested somewhere nearby, perhaps even in the yard.  They were especially fond of safflower seed.  They came to the feeders and liked to hang out on the basement patio to get some sun.  Then, the non-native  E...

Imagine a place, a small island perhaps, where much of the wildlife of a region can be found.  What would it be like to experience a dozen or more wildlife encounters in just a couple hours of exploring?  Such a microcosm of the Pacific Northwest exists and it's a stone's throw from where I live.  You can literally walk a mile and find forest, wetland, beaches, tide pools, driftwood fields, salt marsh, rocky balds, grass meadows and a pocket estuary.  It also happens to be a significant Native American cultural site.  All of these things can be found in a 96 acre/39 hectare preserve just waiting to be explored. The Kukutali Preserve opened June 16th, 2014.  Over the past three months I have made several visits.  During this short time and in this small site, I have acquired an amazing collection of wildlife sightings and photographs.  To reveal what an amazing place this is, I decided to post them all at once. Along the Road From the par...

Three years ago, my neighbor sent me a photo of a Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) in his yard.  It has taken them three years to make it the quarter-mile or so to mine.  I now see this pair hanging out in my yard every day.  They appear to be attracted by the feeders. This world-traveling species has an interesting story.  Their original homeland is south Asia, India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, according to iBird .  During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, they spread across Europe and eastward to into China.  By 1953, they had reached Britain .  Then in 1974, they were introduced into the Bahamas.  By the mid eighties, they were seen in Florida.  Since then, they have colonized most of the U.S ., also reaching southern Canada and northern Mexico.  South Fidalgo Island now appears to be part of their range. They are extremely shy.  If I get anywhere near the front yard, they escape to the big firs.  I...

My neighbor has a knack for catching great bird photos.  This young, female Rufous Hummingbird ( Salasphorus rufus ) visits a Torch Lily.  We have two Trochilidae  common on South Fidalgo; the other is Anna's Hummingbird.  I had Rufies visiting the yard this past January, by the book, a bit out of season. The Eurasian Collared Dove ( Streptopelia decaocto ) is an immigrant, originally introduced into the Bahamas in the 1970's.  By the 1980's, they reached Florida and apparently have now made it all the way to South Fidalgo Island. Photos:  Dan Codd

Spotted Towhee Female ( Pipilo maculatus ) In the same family as Sparrows and Juncos, Towhees are the largest birds of the group.  The Spotted Towhee ( Pipilo maculatus ) is our western Washington representative.  The bird originally called the Rufous-sided Towhee was divided into Eastern Towhee ( P. erythrophthalmus ) and the Spotted Towhee.  White spotted markings on the wings distinguish the latter.  Our local oreganus race shows the least white spotting among regional groups.  Draw a line from the western border of Minnesota south to roughly define the territories of the two species.  Both Easterns and Spotteds may have the unusual fiery red eyes.  Spotted Towhee Male with House Sparrow  They are midway in size between Sparrows and Robbins.  Male Spotted Towhees have black markings and females dark brown.  Pronounce their name TOE-hee or TOE-ee.  These are very congenial citizens around the feeders that never use their size...