WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 10 new views

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to the readers who’ve sent bird photos in recent weeks – enough for the first gallery of spring! First, two views of Steller’s Jays, above from an unidentified texter, below from Danelle Jay:

Next, a Sharp-shinned Hawk from Mark Dale:

From David Butler, a Raven:

Marc photographed this Barred Owl:

James Hiersche sent this photo of a Bald Eagle over Lincoln Park:

From Ann Anderson, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet:

Two from Mark MacDonald – a Spotted Towhee:

And a Goldeneye:

Finally, from Stringtie – a Herring Gull with a snack:

Thanks as always for sending bird photos so we can share with your West Seattle neighbors! westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to send non-breaking-news photos like these, but if you decide to text instead, please include your name so we can credit you – thank you!

oerthehill April 2, 2023 (3:26 pm)

Oh man, I love these posts! thanks!

Karen April 2, 2023 (3:34 pm)

FABULOUS, THANK YOU to all!!!!

Insertname April 2, 2023 (4:45 pm)

Jill April 2, 2023 (4:57 pm)

More please

Trileigh April 2, 2023 (7:34 pm)

Wonderful photos all! We are so blessed to have such a diversity of birds in West Seattle – and now with migration season upon us, many more to come!I think the “Ruby-crowned Kinglet” might actually be a Hutton’s Vireo. These adorable little birds look so much alike that I usually can’t tell them apart at a quick glance. Here are two ways to tell them apart:

• The Hutton’s Vireos have black feet, whereas the RC Kinglet has golden feet
• The vireo has a diffuse gray area under the white wing bar, whereas the RC Kinglet has a dark bar under the white wing bar.
Here’s a link that shows the difference. Either way, they’re a delight to have in your garden!

WSB April 2, 2023 (8:53 pm)

I keep meaning to add this disclaimer, IDs are as sent by the photographer. There are a few common birds I know without question, but otherwise, I defer. Thanks for the info – TR

Robin M. Snyder April 2, 2023 (9:39 pm)

We had a couple Stellar Jays on our front porch, unafraid of me behind glass, waiting for handouts. Squirrels also. Then crows came and birds haven’t come back or Squirrels. Any ideas?

Katya Giritsky April 3, 2023 (8:45 am)

Try whole raw peanuts, maybe a few at a time…

SlimJim April 3, 2023 (8:50 am)

I agree with Trileigh about the kinglet actually being a Vireo. That’s a tough ID, so no shame if it’s wrong.;-)Also, the Herring Gull is probably misidentified. It appears to be a Glaucous-winged Gull, our common “seagull”. Herring Gulls have yellow eyes (among othe small differences) and are far less common.

Kersti Elisabeth Muul April 3, 2023 (5:19 pm)

Corrections to bird ID above are right. Hutton’s vireo, not kinglet. Glaucous-winged gull, not Herring and also, that’s a Cooper’s hawk, not a sharpie.

Mark April 3, 2023 (5:57 pm)

Kersti, I always have a hard time differentiating between the two. What tells you that the bird in the photo is a Cooper’s?
- Kersti Elisabeth Muul April 3, 2023 (7:13 pm)
  
  Hi Mark,Flat blocky head, eye position relative to beak, light neck feathers, dark cap vs. ‘cape’, lack of buggy eyed parakeet look, size.Lots of things to go on here even without the legs or tail to help

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