Beaks and Bills

  September 2018

Return of the Shorebirds

Whatcom Watch

by Joe Meche Just like clockwork, and further to my last column, by late July the shorebirds that passed through on their northbound migration had begun heading south. The great thing about it is that birding activity in general will … Continue reading →

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  August 2018

Seasonal Flux

Whatcom Watch

by Joe Meche While it might be difficult to imagine, the period between late July and early August is the time of year when birding seasons overlap to the point of — for lack of a better word — confusion. … Continue reading →

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  July 2018

Bird Books: A Baker’s Dozen for Summer Reading

Whatcom Watch

by Joe Meche Ever since my retrospective about the 175th Beaks and Bills column in the May 2018 issue, I’ve had occasion to look back over the list of columns that I’ve written in the past sixteen years. A few … Continue reading →

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  June 2018

An Eastside Retrospective

Whatcom Watch

by Joe Meche As winter has finally loosened its grip we are currently making preparations for another departure to signal the beginning of our own camping season. After last month’s look back over the past sixteen years of Beaks and … Continue reading →

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  May 2018

In Retrospect: From 2002 to 2018

by Joe Meche

Editor’s Note: Joe’s first article appeared in the April 2002 issue of Whatcom Watch. It was so successful editor Sally Hewitt asked Joe if he was intersted in writing a monthly column. He accepted the offer and the first Beaks … Continue reading →

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  April 2018

Seasonal Transition

Whatcom Watch

by Joe Meche As you’re reading this column, the first day of spring is behind us and the profusion of greenery is everywhere. We’re also seeing and hearing the transitional phases of our migratory birds. The birds that have spent … Continue reading →

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  March 2018

Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival  

by Joe Meche

Blaine/Birch Bay/Semiahmoo,  March 16-18 The Wings Over Water birding festival celebrates its 16th anniversary this year and, if the popularity of recent festivals continues, it could become a permanent fixture for Whatcom County birders of every level. The festival originated … Continue reading →

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  March 2018

The Best Early Spring Birding

Whatcom Watch

by Joe Meche From my own experience, I have a select list of places I’ve been where the birding was, and hopefully still is, spectacular. The short list ranges from the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on Sanibel Island … Continue reading →

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  February 2018

Owls in Whatcom County

Whatcom Watch

by Joe Meche Whenever I think of birds and I’m pinned down to decide which of these remarkable creatures are the most fascinating, I always lean toward owls. I know from personal experience that I don’t just look at an … Continue reading →

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  January 2018

Three for the Winter Road

Whatcom Watch

by Joe Meche Fellow watchers often ask me to provide a list of my favorite places to see birds in winter, without having to spend half the day getting there! That’s easy to do because I go to the same … Continue reading →

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