1-31-12 Lower Whatcom Creek

In the afternoon, I went down to the Whatcom Creek tidal basin where I found this Red-throated Loon.
It was beached {very unusual for these birds} and obviously tangled in some fishing gear.
It was a bait box from a crab pot with several nooses attached.
I quickly returned home, made a couple of calls, and got the tools I needed.
When I returned, it was about 40 feet from where it had been.
I covered it with a blanket, got it calmed down, and started to work on cutting it free.
Its feet and wings were not ensnared, but it had a noose around its body that was quite tight.
Once freed, it just sat on the beach and shivered. Exhausted and possibly in shock. I covered it with the blanket to keep it warm.
My friend {and North Cascades Audubon President}, Joe Meche arrived. Together we examined the bird for injury and determined it to be OK.
We then released it into the creek where it quickly swam away, had a drink, rose up for a wing stretch, and was diving as it made its way downstream to the Bay.
Seemed just fine.

1-31-12 Lower Whatcom Creek


Joe releasing the loon.

1-31-12 Lower Whatcom Creek

Red-throated Loon making its way downstream to Bellingham Bay.




The offending crabbing gear.

1-31-12 Lower Whatcom Creek

Once the loon disappeared on Bellingham Bay, Joe and I took a walk up the creek.
Not a lot of birds around, but we spotted this young River Otter.
This is the first one I have seen in this section of the creek.
It was foraging on grasses and other things.

1-31-12 Lower Whatcom Creek

The otter crawls out on the far side of the creek where it rolled around on some grass before disappearing into the bushes.






While rescuing the loon, I noticed a dead Double-crested Cormorant on the beach near the loon.
After the release, Joe and I wandered around the area, watching birds and the otter.
At dusk, we found a second dead DCCO. Very unusual. This one was on the opposite side of the creek from the other.
There has been three DCCOs hanging out in one of the hatchery pools.
Now two of them show up dead. Joe reported our discovery to the appropriate authorities.
We later learned that no chemicals were being used at the hatchery, and that the pool where these birds had been visiting was just creek water being recirculated.
An unsolved mystery.

2-2-12 * Lummi Flats

It was dry, but the light was dull and poor, making for mediocre photos.
I did however see some eagles, so here they are.
This juvenile was perched by the Ferndale rd.

2-2-12 * Lummi Flats

Also on the Ferndale rd. were these Trumpeter Swans who are often seen here.

2-2-12 * Lummi Flats

I checked 4 nests. This was the only pair I found that was hanging out by their nest.
Smugglers Slough nest.




While watching the SS pair, this rare Harlan's Hawk flew by with a crow escort.