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 September 12, 2014

Coffee With The Birds

Most mornings, Eric sits outside and drinks his coffee while observing the birds in our campsite at Spencer Spit State Park. Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Spotted Towhees, and Pacific Wrens are daily visitors to our site, along with frequent appearances by various woodpeckers, including the big beautiful Pileated. Overhead, ravens cavort in the tree canopy.

We walk down to the spit and always find a variety of gulls in the marsh, along with dowitchers, Great Blue Herons, sanderlings, sandpipers, and terns. Bald Eagles sail overhead while kingfishers call raucously as they fly by. It’s a wonderfully bird-rich island. Unless we’re leading a bird walk. And then, there’s nary a bird to be found. (Except for the gulls, who are ever-present.)

Last summer, as part of our job as Interpretive Hosts, we came up with the idea of offering a weekly morning bird walk in the park. To lure campers out of their cozy sleeping bags and tents, we provide freshly brewed locally roasted coffee (kids get hot chocolate). The title of our program, naturally, is “Coffee With The Birds.”

This small island boasts more than 200 species of birds. There’s habitat to suit all preferences—forested areas, open grassland, marshes, ponds, rocky shorelines, and beaches. In addition to the wealth of birds that reside in Spencer Spit State Park, we’ve found the exotic-to-us Rhinoceros Auklets and Tufted Puffins offshore at Iceberg Point; and Common Loons, Black Oystercatchers, and Surf Scoters while kayaking in the bays.

Coffee With The Birds
Coffee With The Birds
At the Nature Center
At the Nature Center
Learning the difference between crows and ravens
Learning the difference between crows and ravens
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Pacific Wren
Pacific Wren
American Raven
American Raven
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
In the marsh
In the marsh
Birding the marsh
Birding the marsh
Greater Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher
Bonaparte's Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Surf Scoters
Surf Scoters
Rhinoceros Auklet
Rhinoceros Auklet
Black Oystercatcher
Black Oystercatcher

“Coffee With The Birds” has been a resounding success, both with campers in the park, visitors to the island, and locals. We begin with a 45-minute slideshow of Lopez birds, compiled from the best of our photos taken over the past four years. (It’s a good thing we have the photos to prove that there are, indeed, birds on Lopez.) We then stroll through the woods and down to the marsh on the spit, searching for birds along the way. Despite the fact that we rarely see more than a few birds on the bird walk, everyone loves the program and leaves with a good idea of the birds that call Lopez home.

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Categories : San Juan Islands, Travel, Washington
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Comments

  1. Barbara Covey says:
    September 13, 2014 at 6:49 am

    Absolutely fantastic, gorgeous bird photography. Thank you, thank you to both of you. I will save and cherish this one. I move to Indiana on Sept. 24, to a Senior retirement community. Cannot afford one here. My E-mail address will remain the same.Hugs.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      September 13, 2014 at 4:58 pm

      So happy that you enjoyed this post, Barbara — I thought you might, given that you’re such a devoted birder! I hope your move to Indiana goes well; we’ll definitely stay in touch. Hugs to you from both of us. :-)

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  2. Fred Wishnie says:
    September 13, 2014 at 8:41 am

    Great blog and wonderful pictures.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      September 13, 2014 at 4:54 pm

      We trying to entice you and Jo for a visit next summer. ;-)

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  3. Ingrid says:
    September 13, 2014 at 10:46 am

    Sounds like you’ve developed a lovely program. I may have to visit Lopez Island just to attend. Seeing a Puffin is high on my must see list.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      September 13, 2014 at 4:56 pm

      We’ve had a lot of fun creating programs, Ingrid. We’re wanting to get a closer look at the puffins, too — we have photos, but none that I thought were worthy of posting. Maybe next year!

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  4. Judy little says:
    September 13, 2014 at 1:10 pm

    This is soooo great!!! Doing & sharing what ya love. You’ve collected some amazing photos. I think I’ll put the kettle on & take another look…

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      September 13, 2014 at 4:53 pm

      Thanks, Judy — wish you could have come up this summer — maybe next year? Can’t wait to see you in Ashland! xo

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  5. Sherry says:
    September 13, 2014 at 2:36 pm

    No wonder this state park loves you two with the programs you have devised. Those are some of the best bird photographs I’ve ever seen. The bald eagle, the loon and the auklet are professional. Do you ever enter any of these pictures you take in contests or to magazines? If not, you should. Really loved the surf scoters. I’ve never seen them before. Wish I could be a camper in your campground. Sadly I’m headed in the opposite direction.

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      September 13, 2014 at 4:50 pm

      I wish you could be here, too, Sherry. In fact, we wish you and David could be our co-camp hosts! This is the perfect place for you guys with all of the hiking, biking, and kayaking. I appreciate your kind comments about our photographs.

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  6. Pam Wright says:
    September 13, 2014 at 4:20 pm

    Love the loon and the owl:) But those surf scoters are too cute with that adorable bill.

    What a clever and very inviting idea…Coffee With The Birds!”

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      September 13, 2014 at 4:48 pm

      Thanks, Pam — everyone seems to enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate on the typically cool island mornings — the smell of coffee lures them in. :-) I think the surf scoters are my favorite, too.

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  7. MonaLiza says:
    September 13, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    What a neat idea! You guys are not only great nature teachers but also great photographers! Those surf scoters are so darn cute, I want to see them one day with you!

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      September 13, 2014 at 11:03 pm

      MonaLiza, it would be so much fun to explore Lopez with you and Steve! You guys would enjoy all of the adventures here, and you would love the birding. We’ll show you all the best spots.

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  8. LuAnn says:
    September 15, 2014 at 12:57 pm

    Spencer Spit must be delighted to have found you and Eric. What great programs you two have designed.

    I have always loved the pileated woodpecker and that surf scoter is adorable.

    We will definitely be exploring this part of Washington after seeing your posts. Thanks!

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    • Laurel (AKA chickadee) says:
      September 18, 2014 at 5:04 pm

      Thank you, LuAnn! We feel so fortunate to have made this connection. I hope you two can make it to Lopez — you will love it.

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Eric and Laurel

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