Purple Sandpiper
The wind was really roaring when we got to CBBT #1. There were a few birds on the rocks and flying about, and a small cluster of ducks far off the rock point to the north of the island. At least there was bright sunshine, but it really didn't make me feel much warmer. We saw our first Red-throated Loon of the trip.
Purple Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Buffleheads, Female Surf Scoters, and Greater Scaup
Surf Scoters and a female Black Scoter (left)
Male Red-breasted Merganser
Long-tailed Duck and female Red-breasted Merganser
Long-tailed Duck and Surf Scoters
Red-throated Loon
We returned to Pleasure House Point, and saw some great birds there.
Bufflehead, American Black Ducks, and Hooded Mergansers
Male Red-breasted Merganser (note the serrated bill)
Male Red-breasted Merganser
Female Red-breasted Merganser
Fish Crow
When we turned the corner of the point, and headed toward the bridge, we saw a large flock of gulls, Brants, and Black Skimmers on a sand bar.
Brants
Brants
Brant
Black Skimmers
Black Skimmers
All of a sudden, all of the birds except for a few of the gulls took flight, made a couple of circular passes, and a minute or so later, returned to the sand bar.
Brants
Brants
Brants
Black Skimmers
Black Skimmers
Black Skimmers
Black Skimmer
A Bald Eagle had flown high over the sand bar and had spooked the birds. A couple of minutes later, the Bald Eagle returned, and was being chased by an Osprey. I have seen Bald Eagles chasing Ospreys before, trying to get the Osprey to drop a fish, but never have seen an Osprey chasing an eagle. When I looked closely at the photos, the Bald Eagle was carrying a small fish, but I wonder if it might have been an Osprey chick. I have read that migrating Ospreys breed in the spring, but resident Ospreys breed in the winter. It was probably a small fish, but it looks almost as if there is a small bill on it??
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Osprey
We ended the day's birding back at Rudee Inlet, where we saw a few species that we had seen there earlier in the day, but added a male and female Black Scoter, and two immature male Common Eiders. I wish that the Common Eiders had been much closer to shore.
Black Scoter
Common Eider
Common Eider