Participants on Steve Johnson’s popular Fall Color Fall Birds field trip Oct 11th enjoyed Steve’s usual good luck with the weather – the day was dry until the very end of our walk through Dash Point State Park campground. That very light precip dried right up at our final stop, Dumas Bay Retreat Center Overlook. 

Lake Fenwick’s surface was calm, reflecting beautiful autumn colors on the opposite hillside. Birders were excited to see a Sharp-shinned Hawk perched in a dead treetop nearly above us. A male Wood Duck preened on a log, and a female swam by our group on the island. A female wigeon and two female Green-winged Teals were among the many Mallards present. A Belted Kingfisher flew the length of this scenic lake, and several woodland species were heard. 

At Steel Lake the ducks conveniently dabbled, dove or rested close to the beach and viewing platform, including Ruddy Ducks, many American Coots, and small rafts of American Wigeons. A Bald Eagle flew by above the lake. Two Pied-billed Grebes foraged in the lake’s center. 

We encountered cold winds at Browns Point Lighthouse Park, not surprising. We were given opportunities to note the differences between Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants, and had several looks at Rhinoceros Auklets through the spotting scope. No sign of a Marbled Murrelet yet. Savannah Sparrows foraged on weed seeds, right at our feet at times, a Killdeer was heard, and a trio of Surf Scoters flew rapidly by just above the water. 

The Dash Point campground provided shelter from the winds, yielding glimpses of many birds such as Downy Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow and Spotted Towhee, while Brown Creeper and Pacific Wren were heard only. 

Last stop at the cliff’s edge above Dumas Bay we once again endured the cold wind. Through the scope we saw Surf Scoters, Horned Grebe, Short-billed and Glaucous-winged Gulls, ten Rhinoceros Auklets, Ametican Wigeons, and our first Ring-necked Ducks for the day. The retreat grounds offered Chickadees, Juncos, Anna’s Hummingbird and a flyover by a Great Blue Heron. 

It was an invigorating day in the field that left birders well satisfied with sightings and looking forward to Steve’s next field trip at Clark Lake Park on November 29th.