Wild Fidalgo

The weather started to look more spring-like this week.  With a day off and a pause in the rain, I decided to see what was going on at nearby Deception Pass State Park .  First, I crossed the bridge to Whidbey Island to check out the sand dunes at West Beach.  The Northwestern Crows were out and about raising a ruckus as usual.  This one paused to catch a drink from Cranberry Lake. Next came a stop at Bowman Bay on Fidalgo Island.  This pair of Canada Geese was feeding on the lawn next to the parking lot. The American Robins were still hunting earthworms in the picnic grounds, as we saw last month .  I didn't spot anyone who appeared to be full of eggs this time. Among the spring flowers in the lawn, several Dark-eyed Juncos were foraging with the Robins.  Also spotted, White-crowned Sparrows that were too quick for my camera.  Everybody was singing in their individual voices. I set off on the trail to Rosario Beach an...

In the dappled shade of Douglas Firs, two male California Quail ( Callipepla californica ) dance on a rail fence evoking the shadow puppet plays of Asia.  The bevy pictured here was spotted at Rosario Beach in Deception Pass State Park. When I moved into my house, the Quail were the first birds I noticed in the yard.  Six or seven broods, chortling parents and young together, would move across the ground on foraging expeditions.  One of the males would perch on something high and serve as a lookout.  His attention to duty was steadfast.  The group would move along quickly, never lingering in any one spot.  The first time I saw this, I thought the ground was rippling.  It was the visual effect of dozens of tiny scurrying chicks. California Quail Female There is a reason these shy birds use a lookout and rarely stop moving while out in the open.  They are the "wildebeests" of the bird world.  By that I mean they are a favorite foo...