Western meadowlarks are being seen in the fields along 85th street in Long Beach and in field around Oysterville. They mainly feed on grubs, beetles and grasshoppers. Their winter diet consists mainly of grains and grass seeds.

This week’s article focuses on the birds Observer readers are seeing. Thank you to those of you have sent me your sightings. I appreciate receiving your observations, comments, and photos.

Sightings from South Bend and Raymond readers have come in this past week or so, and they are most welcome. An interesting way to take a birding trip is by bus to Tokeland. It is a great way to have coffee with the birds. Tokeland is a hub of bird activity and there are always many interesting sightings. Here is one reader’s account from such a trip: I watched, a “mysterious hawk seen hunting, over the marsh, out at Tokeland behind the hotel. The tilted vee wings, small slenderness of it. Distinctive white rump. And there she was again, above the fold, heading your page — Harrier. [CO, Jan. 24, 2024] I’d stood looking out at a big swale or marsh for quite a while, facing the water. Suddenly out in front of me, up out of the ground cover, rose the hawk to begin low veering hunts over thick reeds and grasses. Kiting about”! I get “coffee at the hotel bar and go out to hear..see…eagles whistle, and something different every time.” An exciting way to go birding for sure!

Another reader sends this feeder report from the south end of the Peninsula. Anna’s hummingbirds, a sharp-shinned hawk and a Cooper’s hawk are be regulars in his yard. It is well known that some raptors frequent yards with feeders hoping for a tasty meal. This is one reason why it is important to have cover such as shrubs and vegetation for the small birds in the event of an ambusher looking for a meal. The sharp-shinned and the Cooper’s will often slip quietly into a yard, sit on a perch, and just watch for an opportunity. This reader also reports seeing a red-shouldered hawk in the Seaview area. It tends to sit on utility wires or the top of a utility pole. Sharp-shinned hawks are also being reported at the north end of the Peninsula in the Nahcotta and Oysterville areas.

A visit to the Port of Peninsula revealed several interesting sightings. Horned grebes, western grebes, common loon, glaucous-winged gulls, bald eagle, great blue heron, a lone semi-palmated plover on shore and mallards. Further along Willapa Bay flocks of northern pintail gathered along with mallards and buffleheads. A downy woodpecker was seen and heard hammering its head off in the trees along the shore. A majestic dark phase red-tailed hawk sat as still as could be close to the trunk of a large sitka spruce. It was on the hunt too.

Tarlatt of the South Bay Unit of the refuge has been busy of late as well. Large flocks of Canada geese and cackling geese are seen almost daily. Geese are also being seen in the Tokeland area. A pair of American kestrels are seen almost daily as well. They are usually observed hunting from the utility wires on both 85th and 95th. The wetland on 85th has been home to a few ducks for a few weeks now. The species seen include ring-necked ducks, mallards, northern pintails, green-winged teal and American wigeons. One reader indicates that 85th street has also been home to foraging western meadowlarks.

The end of 95th has been an excellent spot from to see a pair of eagles, a red-tailed hawk, and a belted kingfisher. Foraging along the roadside edges of 85th and 95th are northern flickers, song sparrows and dark-eye juncos.

Birding is such a magnificent hobby, and our areas are the very best for birds! I am keeping tabs on the birds in preparation for the Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 16-19, 2024. I hope you are too! Happy birding!