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An intense hummer war occurred Thursday (10-15) afternoon in Wesley's territory behind the #1 viewing platform of the marsh. As many as four Anna's hummingbirds were chasing each other, although I only got three of the combatants in any single photo. The skirmishes were interesting in that there were no retreats. The hummers simply rested on the same tree for a few minutes before resuming combat. The following are a few of the many shots I took. Just call me the Matthew Brady of the great Edmonds Marsh Hummer War of 2015.
I have pointed out three hummers in the first photo. Can you find all three in the remaining photos?
The nuthatches have been going crazy at my bird feeders. They are quite picky and will flip out several seeds like frisbees until they find one they like.
At Marina Park. A mystery gull that looks like it is transitioning out of breeding plumage.
Monday (10/19) morning I saw a snipe off the #1 viewing platform. The snipe was hiding in the grass due to the high water level. Taken with the 7DII + 100-400L II telephoto zoom.
I returned in the late afternoon with the 5DIII + 500L telephoto + 1.4x teleconverter. The water had receded a little and the snipe moved closer to its usual location at the mud/plant interface.
Tuesday afternoon (10/20) I was driving into Edmonds on Hwy 104 when I spotted something out of the ordinary on a branch of the raptor tree on the fish hatchery grounds. I had to drive all the way down to Harbor Square in order to turn around and come back to the hatchery. The bird was a juvie red-tailed hawk, possibly the same one I had photographed last week being harassed by crows at the marsh.
The hawk flew back and forth between two of the tall trees at the hatchery before taking off southeast.
I drove to the marsh and caught the hawk returning to Pt. Edwards while I was at the #2 viewing platform.
A female kingfisher was perched on the "tree" off the #2 viewing platform where the martin gourds used to hang. Our local kingfishers are habituated to people and will pose for photographs.
5III + 500L + 1.4x teleconverter, tripod mounted
One again two snipes came out off the #1 viewing platform once the water level dropped.
Four male red-winged blackbirds were perched in the tall tree behind the #1 viewing platform. I have never seen males this close together, perhaps because it is not the mating season. 7DII + 100-400L II, hand-held
PSA: Kenmore Camera's annual digital photo expo at the Lynnwood Convention Center is coming up in less than two weeks. It looks like several good speakers and class sessions are on tap. Check the Saturday and Sunday schedules from the home page.
Monday (10/26) was a dark, overcast day at the marsh. I got in a brief photo session before it started to rain.
What the marsh may have looked like over 130 years ago before the town was developed.
A friend dropped by and promptly spotted two dunlin out in the large mudflat.
A size comparison of the dunlin, killdeer, and green-winged teals.
A hawk flew south along the west side of the marsh while we were at the #3 viewing platform. I assumed it was a Cooper's hawk, but it may have been a sharp-shinned hawk based on its small head; long, thin tail with a square tip; and the far forward position of the its mid-wing joints or "wrists" in relation to its head.
Tuesday (10/27) my son and I made a trip to the fishing pier where we ran into Jerome.
Some rhinoceros auklets were fishing off the fishing pier. People tossing crab nets into the water may have kept them from getting very close to the pier. At least one of the rhinos was still in breeding plumage.
A double-crested cormorant flew by, which gave Jerome and me a chance to practice our CIF (cormorants in flight) shots.
A flock of small shore birds were out flying out in the Sound. They were too far away for me to identify.
Hermann's gulls were strafing the water below the pier and scooping up tiny fish that were jumping out of the water.
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