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A common loon swims along looking not too common at all.

Life

WHIDBEY BIRDING | Reeling in Whidbey’s loons

I recently caught my first salmon of the year. It was a beautiful 6-7 pound silver, which I…

A female Northern harrier soars while searching for prey.

Life

From soaring to fluttering, flight helps ID birds | WHIDBEY BIRDING

While having coffee with a friend recently, she suggested, “Why don’t you write about bird flight. I’d like…

Above

Life

Guillemot surveys are important reminders | WHIDBEY BIRDING

Summer time and the living is easy, well at least for us humans. It’s the most demanding month…

A great blue heron sits perched in a tree. Populations of the large birds appear to be increasing

Life

‘WISE MEN’ OF THE SKIES on the rise | WHIDBEY BIRDING

I’m getting reports of Nature Channel quality sightings of great blue herons at Greenbank farm. The farm’s executive…

A male California quail looks alert from his perch.

Life

California quail: facing a purrrfect threat | WHIDBEY BIRDING

Each morning I look out the window and search for “our” California quails. Usually, two pairs strut out…

A juvenile male hairy woodpecker perches on a tree stump.

Life

Wild about woodpeckers | WHIDBEY BIRDING

A sharp pounding on the metal downspout outside my window practically rattles my teeth. It’s a northern flicker…

A male Rufous Hummingbird pauses long enough for a photo.

Life

Brighten your day with a little luck | WHIDBEY BIRDING

In my last column I tossed out the invitation for readers to nominate favorite “good luck” birds. I…

A vermilion flycatcher perches atop a bare thorn branch. Record columnist Frances Wood calls the bright-red avian the Valentine bird.

Life

Vermilion flycatcher captures our hearts, imaginations | WHIDBEY BIRDING

My husband and I recently returned from a month of birding in and around the city of Oaxaca,…

A mature red-tailed hawk lets out a cry as it soars the skies over Whidbey Island.

Life

The red-tailed hawk elegant, noble & mysterious | WHIDBEY BIRDING

January’s a good time to watch for that other winter raptor, the one that is smaller and browner…

A chestnut-backed chickadee holds still for a photo.

News

True love? Then leave the partridge in the tree | WHIDBEY BIRDING

“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree.”

An adult Cooper’s hawk is photographed perched in a tree.

News

More in the mist than meets the eye | WHIDBEY BIRDING

Thick fog, like we’ve recently experienced, puts a real damper on birding. The birds hunker down and avoid…

A great horned owl perches on a tree.

Life

Look who’s visiting Whidbey’s trees: Great Horned Owls | WHIDBEY BIRDING

Note to readers: With this column I begin a collaboration with one of Whidbey Island’s best bird photographers,…

Life

Who claims biggest bird title on Whidbey? | WHIDBEY BIRDING

Recently a five-year-old friend asked me, “What’s the biggest bird?” and I was reminded of our fascination with…