Thanks again to all the WSB readers who have sent bird photos! We have another collection for you – starting with sea/shore sightings. First, the bird above is a Belted Kingfisher near Don Armeni Boat Ramp, photographed by Steven Director. Off Alki, Danny McMillin caught Brant passing a Kitsap Transit foot ferry:

Two from Matthew Olson – a Red-necked Grebe:

And a Common Merganser:

Robin Sinner photographed a Black Turnstone taking off, leaving its shadow behind:

Now to birds more often seen away from the shore. Here’s a Purple Finch, from Gentle McGaughey:

A Pacific Wren at Lincoln Park, from Mark MacDonald:

A leucistic Crow taking flight near Alki Beach, photographed by Michelle Laughlin:

Two Steller’s Jays, from WTR:

And we close with two Hummingbird photos – William Wright photographed one feeding on a winter-blooming Grevillea during the snow earlier this month:

And Kersti Muul shows us one building a nest:

If you’re doing outdoor work this time of year, be very mindful about not disturbing nests – hummingbirds’ nests are especially small. Here’s what we published two years ago with advice from Kersti.

(Thursday photo by David Hutchinson)

After a veterinarian examined the Bald Eagle that was listlessly hanging around Don Armeni Boat Ramp on Thursday, we now have word on what’s wrong with it. Via email, the PAWS wildlife-rehab facility‘s spokesperson Laura Follis tells WSB:

On intake, she was standing, alert, and defensive, but bloodwork noted a severe anemia with bleeding from her gastrointestinal tract. She received a blood transfusion and is being cared for by PAWS wildlife veterinary and rehabilitation team. Her prognosis is very guarded at this time and we are hopeful for her recovery.

(Thursday photo by Kersti Muul)

The safe capture of the ailing bird involved local wildlife advocates as well as officers from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Seattle Police. Bald Eagles are often seen in the area, but won’t often just linger on the ground the way this one did unless there’s something wrong.

Last Saturday, we published a reader report from Barrett, wondering about a furred animal part that turned up in his Admiral yard. Others offered theories, and he pursued with wildlife experts. Here’s what he heard back:

The Woodland Park Zoo confirmed that it is in fact partial remains of a black bear. They offered 2 possible explanations. The first is that it was hunted and brought to West Seattle to be processed. These remains could be waste scavenged from the hunter’s property. Since it is way outside bear hunting season for Washington, this has been reported to WDFW. The second explanation the zoo put forth is that the bear traveled here from the east side and deceased from any number of urban hazards. Another great idea I’ve heard from a few people now is that the remains were dropped by a large bird of prey. This is a pretty good catch-all theory…and as a bonus it preserves some faith in humanity.

So the mystery is partly solved. (We have had a few past bear sightings …)

Every so often, an animal mystery lands in the WSB inbox. (Like the Beach Drive cow 10 years ago.) Tonight, a new one – what looks like part of a wild animal turned up in Barrett‘s yard. He’s looking for help in figuring out what it is:

I found in my side yard a large piece of what appears to be skin from a bear’s head. It is fresh and covered in thick black hair with a distinctly large and round furry ear. Am in North Admiral. Where could this have come from?? Presumedly left by a raccoon. Seriously, it really looks like it’s from a bear. Could there be any readers out there who recently hunted and skinned a bear at home and mismanaged the bits? Maybe a reader could identify it as lost pet remains?

The photo isn’t particularly gross but nonetheless, we’re not showing it unless you want to see it by clicking hereor here. Any ideas, please comment, or email us.

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, here’s a super lineup of contributed bird photos. Above – something to watch for – a hummingbird nest, photographed by Kersti Muul of Salish Wildlife Watch. Kersti also shared this photo of a Red-winged Blackbird:

From Jerry Simmons, a Spotted Towhee:

Another orange-and-black bird you might see around, the Varied Thrush, photographed by Mark MacDonald:

Also from Mark, a Golden-crowned Kinglet:

Steve photographed this Great Blue Heron hanging out in a tree:

One more seabird view – WSB’s Patrick Sand saw these while we were checking out the wind and waves at Constellation Park on Sunday:

We don’t have an ID on those, nor on these photographed by Jessica Benson:

Meantime, we end where we began – with hummingbirds. Gentle McGaughey shared the feeder view:

(It’s best to have your feeders out of service right now, though.) And Theresa Arbow-O’Connor got the colorful closeup:

Big thanks, again, to everyone who shares photos, from birds to breaking news – westseattleblog@gmail.com!

Earlier this month, we reported on wildlife advocates’ advice to temporarily remove your bird feeder to save birds’ lives, because current crowding can spread potentially deadly salmonellosis among them. On Tuesday, Seattle Audubon hosted a state expert ta talk about the problem; the video is above. If you’re concerned about the birds, it’s worth watching. Thanks to Kersti Muul of Salish Wildlife Watch, also a longtime bird steward, for letting us know!

Thanks to everyone continuing to share West Seattle bird photos with us so we can share them with you! Time for a weekend gallery. Above and below (with a shrimp snack), Mark MacDonald photographed Common Mergansers.

Here’s another seabird – a Cormorant drying itself, photographed by Stewart L.:

Two views of Anna’s Hummingbirds – first, from Jerry Simmons:

And from Gentle McGaughey:

Max Welliver shows us a Red-breasted Nuthatch:

From Mark Dale, a Cooper’s Hawk:

And here’s a tree full of Crows, photographed by Michael Burke:

If you catch a great view of a local bird, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

That’s a Pine Siskin, photographed in West Seattle by Mark Wangerin in December 2019. At the time, he told WSB that they seemed to be showing up in larger numbers. That’s happening again this year, and it’s led to a health problem that has at least one wildlife-advocacy organization suggesting you temporarily take down your feeder(s) to save birds’ lives. Geoff M. emailed us to point out this alert on the PAWS website, which says in part:

We are currently witnessing one of the biggest reported irruption years of Pine Siskins in the United States. Irruptions are sudden, dramatic increases in the abundance of an animal, in this case caused by conifer cone shortages in northern North America. The large flocks we are seeing all over western Washington are incredible to witness. However, this event has caused pine siskins to gather in even larger numbers around bird feeders, which can increase the spread of Salmonella, a potentially fatal bacterium. PAWS has admitted 68 Pine Siskins in the last 60 days and the admissions staff are fielding multiple calls daily about sick siskins.

Usually, we recommend removing feeders for a few weeks when a sick bird is found nearby and cleaning the area thoroughly. However, the flocks are so large and cases so frequent right now, we recommend removing your feeders even before you detect a sick bird until the irruptive migrants move on. Learn more about how to combat salmonellosis here and check out our website for general recommendations about bird health in your yard.

Geoff says, “This is affecting West Seattle, and in the past few days we’ve noticed a few dozen sick and four dead siskins and have since taken down our feeders for the time being.”

Thanks to everyone who sent bird photos so we can continue our mini-tradition of galleries on Seahawks game days. Above, Danny McMillin photographed a Bald Eagle; below, two photos from Michelle Green Arnson – first a Spotted Towhee and (in the background) House Finch:

Below, a Townsend’s Warbler:

Next, two closeups of Anna’s Hummingbirds – first, by Jerry Simmons:

Next, by Nicholas Chesarino:

Gentle McGaughey sent this photo of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet:

Max Welliver photographed a Hermit Thrush:

Another thrush – from Mark MacDonald, a Varied Thrush:

Mark Dale photographed this Cedar Waxwing:

And one of our favorite birds ever, the ever-raucous and colorful Steller’s Jay, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor:

(All the species links go to pages on the Seattle Audubon BirdWeb, where you can learn more about the birds and even hear their calls.)

From the scanner: Someone called 911 to report a “small bear cub” seen near 35th SW/SW Trenton. The dispatcher told officers it would be reported to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Checking our archives, we had a bear-sighting report five years ago, in the Beach Drive greenbelt vicinity.

Seahawks Sunday often means WSB bird-gallery day … so here we go!

Feathered formation! James Tilley photographed that trio of Harlequin Ducks on Christmas Day in the Alki vicinity. Also in that area, here’s a Bald Eagle, from Gary Jones:

Vince Marx shares an uncommon sighting – a Rock Sandpiper, photographed at Seacrest:

This weekend’s rain slicked back the usually spiky crown on this Steller’s Jay, photographed by Jerry Simmons:

Robin Sinner caught a Red-breasted Nuthatch just hanging out:

A splash of color from Mark Wangerin‘s view of a Townsend’s Warbler:

Here’s a Brown Creeper at Lincoln Park, spotted by Mark MacDonald:

And from Mike Burns, a hummingbird:

Big thanks to everyone who sends photos, whether it’s birds, breaking news, Christmas lights, other sightings … westseattleblog@gmail.com (or text 206-293-6302 if it’s urgent).

We’re overdue for another West Seattle bird gallery! So here we go – first, two leucistic (explained here) birds – a Black-capped Chickadee photographed by Lynn Shimamoto, above, and a Northern Flicker photographed by Mark Wangerin, below:

Mark also photographed these Horned Grebes:

Grebes have caught other local photographers’ attention lately, too. Here’s a Red-necked Grebe photographed by Matthew Olson:

Next, Western Grebes photographed by Stewart L.:

Stewart also sent this photo of immature Horned Grebes:

From James Tilley, a Belted Kingfisher:

Also from James – Brant in the surf:

Before we leave the seabirds/shorebirds, Jerry Simmons got.a unique zoomed-in view of this Great Blue Heron:

Also looking fairly fierce in the close view, a Golden-crowned Kinglet photographed by Mark MacDonald:

(Each species link above goes to a Seattle Audubon BirdWeb page where you can read about the bird and even hear its call.) A huge THANK YOU to everyone who shares photos, whether of birds or breaking news (or Christmas lights, crime reports, etc.) – westseattleblog@gmail.com, or text 206-293-6302 if it’s urgent!