It's been a year since CCB took a hiatus - but what a year it's been!
2016 . . . 302 species tallied; seven newbies added to CC's species list; three of which were also new to WA state; all of it adding up to a county list now totalling 393 documented species!
UNBELIEVABLE!! When the county reached 300 species back in 2013 - the first time any county in the state accomplished that feat - there was little thought to the possibility that CC's year-tally might go higher; but higher it went. Here's a quick recap of what was . . .
New species to CC & WA
Field sparrow / Neah Bay / Scott Downs & Eric Heisey [10.29.16]
Dusky capped flycatcher / Neah Bay / Bruce Paige [11.16.16]
Blue grosbeak / Neah Bay / Bob Flores & Randy Hill [11.16.16]
New species to CC
Magnolia warbler / Tatoosh Is., Neah Bay / WRBC [5.16.16]
Blackburnian warbler / Neah Bay / Bill Tweit & Ryan Merrill [9.18.16]
Prothonotary warbler / Neah Bay / Mike Resch [11.05.16]
Rustic bunting / Neah Bay / Cara Borre [12.06.16]
A total of 25 code 5 species were found throughout the county during the year of which 18 were first seen at Neah Bay. An additional 36 code 4s also found a place in the record book with 19 - again - found first at Neah Bay. Kind of a pattern there, eh?
Bird of the Year? The newbies were a thrill; those of code 4 and 5 fame were a kick-in-the-butt; but the BOY - for me - was John's Emperor goose which he found at 3 Crabs as it walked the beach to within 20' of where he was standing. Number 300! Serendipitidly, in 2013 the 300th species was also an Emperor goose found by Bill Parker and Bob Iddins. And the photo of the year? Well let's stay with the goose!
So where do we go from here? How 'bout this: 2017 has already ticked off 138 species including Bohemian waxwing, Harris's sparrow, Yellow billed loon, Black crowned night heron, Western scrub jay and Willet along with Snow goose, White throated sparrow, and a fly-by of x2 Barn swallows over Dungeness the other day. So, go find birds . . .
