Port Ludlow Chamber of Commerce

Birding around Ludlow Bay and Lagoon (by Larry Eifert a Port Ludlow resident)

 

While many are here throughout the year, winter is the best time to see most of these birds in Ludlow Bay.

 

common on lagoon in winter, 18" to 23".

In flight recognized by white patch on forwing. White top of head, green behind eye, the remainder of body buff

 

20" to 26". A diving fish duck, similar to Hooded Merganser. This one is a common in winter around the bay. Red bill, green head, black back on male. Female is gray with puffy head.

 

Dramatic black and white coloration on male. White patch in front of yellow eye on a dark head. Larger than bufflehead at 21"

 

Usually in lagoon in small groups during winter. Small, on 13" to 15". White patch on head, smaller in female, is distinctive.

 

25". The only large black and white diver with a long yellow bill and swanlike neck.

 

Listen for the loon's famous cry in spring. 28" to 36", large and low-swimming. Summer birds are black and white, winter birds are gray and white.

 

25" with smaller body and more slender bill than common loon. Usually here only in winter, summers in far north.

 

Large all-black birds with long necks. Feed by day out near Colvos Rocks, returns to roost in the trees of the back-bay.

 

13" with a "chicken-like bill, and almost no visible tail. In summer it heads for freshwater to breed and nest.

 

12" - 15", with a thin straight bill. In winter they are dark above and white below. In summer they turn red and black and migrate to Canada and Alaska to nest.

 

18" and haevier-appearing than most gebes. In winter they are gray with a white crescent on the chin. They nest in Canada and Alaska.

 

12" - 14". A resident of the bay with nesting sites in ground holes on the two little island in the inner harbor. Guillemots are all black except for white wing patches and red feet.

 

Here all year. 19" and all black except two white patches on top of head. Distinctive orange and red on bill. Dives for shellfish.

 

Usually seen soaring over the bay. One of the largest birds of prey in North America, the Osprey eats almost exclusively fish. It is one of the most widespread birds in the world, found on all continents except Antarctica.

There are residents in Ludlow Bay. Seen anytime of the year flying out to Colvos Rocks to hunt fish, or returning to a nest or roost in the tree in the back bay. White head and tail, dark body and wings. A very large bird.

 

A large blue, gray and white bird seen on the docks or shoreline. Long thin neck, long legs and a loud croaking voice. A favorite bird in the marina where it fishes from the docks.

 

Often seen diving for fish. It hovers over water, then plunges to catch small herring. Heavy beak, large head, blue and white body. Nests in holes along banks.

Swallows nest under eaves and docks, and eat quantities of insects by flying in graceful loops. Especially common around the marina area.

 

A large and vocal swallow. Nest boxes in the marine provide a home for these birds. Eats mosquitoes and other insects. In early to mid summer, watch the young attempt first flights around the marina.

 

Locally, our most common gull. Almost all white, with pale gray back and wings. Large red spots on lower bill. Gulls that are brownish and undistinguished are usually juveniles.

 

 Common Raven

22" to 27". Large black bird, bigger than a crow. Look for wedge-shaped tail, croaking or "tok" sounds, shaggy throat and hawk-like flight.

 

They spend their winters to the south. Some travel all thet way to South or Central America, yet return each summer to our area to nest.

Less than 4" long, this is our common summer hummingbird.

 

6" Junscos are small ground feeders and nesters. White out tail feathers show in flight. Juncos frequent local bird feeders for seeds.

 

8" Common on summer lawns across America, we have great flocks of robins here in wintertime because of the moderate climate. Look for the robin's "read breast"

 

Steller's Jay 

The "Blue Jay" of the West. Black topknot, brilliant deep blue sides and raucous habits. Bold and unafraid, this bird is at home in forests and suburbs alike.

 

6" A common small brown bird with a dark breast spot that sings from a conspicuous perch, where it chatters and warbles. Likes thickets and hedgerow.

 

You'll hear these little black, reddish-brown and white forest birds before you see them Hangs upside down in trees. 5" long.

 

4 1/2". Tiny, spirals down tree trunks looking for insects.

 

9 1/2". Black and white with a red patch on the back of the male's head. Drills holes in trees searching for insects. The speed of hammering can indicate the woodpecker species. We also have Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers

 

12" to 14 : Brownish and black woodpecker that is most often seen eating ants on the ground. The flicker's undulating flight and white rump are conspicuous.

 

These birds spend both summers and winters in our area.

 

Loud bubbling, almost continuous sound, and mouse-like. Found in forest thickets and brambles, this 4" brown bird will fearlessly defend its territory.

 

Quail are in Washington because of deforestation that has provided easy habitat in new fields and meadows. 9" to 12", black head plume like and explanation mark.