Great blue herons can be seen foraging at low tide in the shallow water and the mudflats of Willapa Bay. This heron has found a piling on which to rest and perhaps take a nap!

It is a stormy day. The wind is up, and the rain is coming down! There are white caps on Willapa Bay and the Pacific Ocean seems angry today as its waves hurtle themselves with great force toward its sandy beaches. Nevertheless, the birds of the area are out and about. I think they are aware that our weather is about to change from relatively mild days to colder, stormier days.

The feeders are busy. Chickadees, jays, nuthatches, towhees, and dark-eyed juncos are lined up for their turn at the feeders and the tasty peanut suet cakes. Song sparrows and fox sparrows were also vying for a place at the feeders. The birds are now on today’s second filling of the black oil seed feeder. Sparrows are mainly ground feeders, so most are happy to scratch for seed on the ground or to pick up what the “lucky to be at the feeder birds” drop on the deck. There is no bickering or chasing. Cooperation seems to be the watchword for the moment. There is one exception, however! There are three Anna’s hummingbirds. One thinks the feeder is his and his alone. On occasion however, one of the others, a female, gets to have a sip or two. The third, a male, is chased away at every opportunity.

We birded today just to see what was going on in Oysterville and its environs. It was an amazing day for birds. The impending weather change was influencing most of the species or so it seemed. At the Oysterville Road approach a lone, black-bellied plover was furiously engaged in its run, stop and feed routine. Nearby, dunlin and sanderling were foraging like there was no tomorrow and an adult bald eagle sat on a post looking intently toward the sandy beach for a tasty meal. A single rock pigeon was racing around in the sand dunes at the approach looking for something to eat. At Hines marsh along the Oysterville Road a juvenile bald eagle was on the lookout from a tall spruce.

A drive around Oysterville produced seven western meadowlarks feeding in a field. These robin-sized birds showed off their bright yellow breast with its bold black V as they foraged for seeds. Their white outer tail feathers stood out as they flitted about in the grass. An American robin was also foraging in the field.

In yet another field, known as the meadow, mallards, northern pintails, and American widgeons loafed in the wetland area closest to the bay. The same species of ducks could be seen in the Bay especially in the grasses and reeds where they were somewhat protected from the weather. The other day green-winged teal were numerous here.

Roadside edges were being checked out by dark-eyed juncos and golden-crowned sparrows. A great blue heron was sleeping on a piling, while glaucous-winged gulls hunkered down on a small grassy spot at the edge of the bay.

The rest of the story happened early this past week. The meadow can be one of the most exciting areas for bird sightings. Last week a peregrine falcon sat in the dead snag and an American kestrel sat atop a fence post along the edge of the meadow. On another day last week, as we drove past the meadow we were greeted by a beautiful raptor. It flew up and landed in a tree beside the road. Close inspection revealed that the raptor was a red-shouldered hawk. Another raptor also made an appearance, the northern harrier. It was a female bird dressed in her brown camouflage. It was dipsy-doodling across the meadow with its owl-like face intently focused on the ground. It was hoping for a small mammal such as a mouse or vole. It would make an excellent lunch or snack! Bald eagles are usually seen these days near the meadow as well.

Another day, as we drove along the Oysterville Road to Hines Marsh there were two Copper’s hawks sitting in snags, red-winged blackbirds were making noises, and male a ring-necked duck with its brilliant white shoulder was parading around the marsh.

Oysterville and environs is an excellent birding spot. Try it sometime! Happy birding!