Beaks and Bills

  July 2022

May in the Methow Valley

by Joe Meche The Methow River is a tributary of the Columbia River in north central Washington. Its watershed is in mostly pristine habitats and wilderness areas, so a cleaner free-flowing river would be hard to find. With recreation and … Continue reading

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  June 2022

Back to the Eastside

by Joe Meche A traditional spring routine for me has been to spend time on the Washington coast from mid- to late April to sample the spring shorebird migration. I’ve always found adequate camping facilities on both the north and … Continue reading

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  May 2022

The Oregon Coast

by Joe Meche A quick scan of the Oregon coastline, from the Columbia River to the California state line, leaves no doubt as to the potential for access to a myriad of opportunities for all recreational pursuits. The stunning beauty … Continue reading

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  April 2022

Orcas Island

by Joe Meche To celebrate the 26th anniversary of our marriage in Baja, we treated ourselves to another getaway. This time we chose to take the ferry to Orcas Island and the historic Rosario Inn. Not quite as warm and … Continue reading

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  March 2022

Marching Into Spring

by Joe Meche By the time you read this month’s Whatcom Watch, we will be a short three weeks away from the first day of spring. Given the weather events we’ve all experienced since November, it couldn’t come a day … Continue reading

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  February 2022

Birding Anacortes

by Joe Meche It’s been a while since we celebrated Cindy’s birthday with a getaway, so this year I decided to take her someplace she’s never been. For that matter, I had never been to the Fidalgo Bay Resort, either. … Continue reading

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  January 2022

Whatcom County Winter

Waterfowl, Shorebirds, and Raptors by Joe Meche As we enter yet another new year, it’s more obvious every day that we’re in the thick of winter weather and the birds we associate with the colder months. I’m quite possibly under the … Continue reading

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  January 2022

Bird Names Revisited

by Joe Meche As I approach the 20-year mark of writing for Whatcom Watch and Beaks and Bills, I have occasion to look back at some of the titles, possibly for inspiration or just out of curiosity. Sometimes I see … Continue reading

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  December 2021

Are You Ready for Winter?

by Joe Meche With all things considered, we felt that winter was not far away when we crossed the North Cascades after a birthday weekend in Winthrop. The eastbound trip over the mountains and the first day in the Methow … Continue reading

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  Oct/Nov 2021

October Miscellany

by Joe Meche Silver Lake Revisited It seems that Silver Lake Park has become an August tradition for us over the last few years. Actually, the appeal of this nearby retreat started 29 years ago in the dead of winter. … Continue reading

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