This male Ruddy Duck is the last of a group of at least 9 Ruddy Ducks that have spent the last few weeks at the 56th Street Stormwater Ponds. It was the only one we saw today. Photo with my iPhone using my Kowa scope for a digiscope photo. It looks like he is scratching his ear with his webbed foot.
Today Bruce Labar, Ken Brown, Will Brooks and I did a birding big day in Pierce County. We just killed it today, and I'm going to write a full report as well as post a podcast discussing the big day tomorrow after I get some sleep and have a chance to review all of the eBird lists. We started at 3:45 AM owling, did a relatively modest route of 160 miles over 15 1/2 hours, and totaled 134 species of birds seen as a team. By "Big Day Rules" every birder does not need to see every species, but we all need to stay together, make every attempt for everyone to see every species, and all see the vast majority of the species.
Highlights of the day for me, other than spending a great day with excellent birders and really great people, were seeing 9 American White Pelicans at the McNeil Trail Overlook, finding a Blue-winged Teal at the 134th Street Ponds as well as FOY Western Sandpipers there, and again seeing the Wandering Tattler at the Breakwater Marina in Tacoma.
My first two Western Sandpipers this year in Pierce County seen today at close range. Photos by digiscope using my iPhone.
I am excited about filling in all of the details of the Big Day soon, but for now, some sleep.
Good birding. Steem on!
