Beaks and Bills
by Joe Meche
There’s no doubt that we in the Pacific Northwest … the Fourth Corner … are blessed with a year-round variety of birds, ranging in size from the large trumpeter swans to the diminutive rufous hummingbirds, and just about everything in between. Everyone is eager to pick their favorites, whether it’s the melodious and colorful Neotropical migrants of spring and summer or the thousands of migratory waterfowl that often crowd freshwater lakes, ponds, and open fields in winter.
I’m often asked about my favorites, and, even though it’s a challenging question, I do have one group of birds that is quite numerous within the larger family of birds. Since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by the species that Roger Tory Peterson referred to as the “Ducklike Birds (Miscellaneous Swimmers).”
photo: Joe Meche
Pacific loon
Breaking it down even further, my favorites under the more commonly known category of waterfowl are the diving birds. These are the birds whose feeding behavior is action oriented and are totally at ease in their watery realm. In the family of miscellaneous swimmers, we have dabblers and divers that are most abundant in local waters during the winter months. When freshwater habitats are often frozen during the colder months, you will find a good mix of both types, but my preferred focus is on the birds that favor the saltwater, on and below the surface.
You have to go no farther than Tongue Point at Semiahmoo or the Jorgensen Pier in Blaine to see all of the birds that are near and dear to me. After almost 48 years of frequenting these two venues, I can assure you that your time in pursuit of the divers will be well spent at either site…and the birds will be there from late October through April. Most diving ducks keep their wings closed tightly beneath the surface while others open their wings partially as they submerge. Many use their webbed feet for propulsion. As you observe the divers try to imagine the underwater scene as they make their living below the surface and out of sight.
Perhaps the most common and abundant of the divers are the three species of scoters. The surf, white-winged, and black scoters tend to gather in relatively large flocks, biding their time offshore until the tide shifts from high to low — when their favorite prey is easier to find. They feed mainly on mollusks and crustaceans that are more exposed and well within reach as the tide begins to ebb. The three males are easy enough to tell apart while the females often present a challenge. The act of finding the less common black scoter is often a cause for a celebration. All three scoters amaze observers when they swallow small clams and mussels whole. Their very efficient gizzards grind the shellfish down before they pass into their digestive systems.
A unique pair of sea ducks heads the list of every birder who comes to northern Whatcom County for winter birds. The extremely handsome harlequin duck and the almost mythic visitor from the Arctic, the longtailed duck, are life list targets for every birder. Harlequins are unique in that they fly upstream on alpine rivers and creeks to nest and raise their young before heading back to salt water. Their plumage is intricate and rivals that of the wood duck. The much-prized and sought after long-tailed duck is the record holder as the deepest diving of all the divers. They often reach depths of more than 200 feet and remain underwater for as long as a minute and a half. You might hear the yodeling calls of the long-tailed ducks before you see them.
photo: Joe Meche
Male Bufflehead
Under the heading of bay ducks, are the common and Barrow’s goldeneyes and our smallest duck, the fast-flying bufflehead. Unique markings on the male goldeneyes make them easy to tell apart, but the females present subtle challenges. The key point with the females is the bill color, but that’s another topic for another day when we discuss sexual dimorphism. While the bufflehead occasionally crosses over to feed on freshwater, the goldeneyes prefer the salt.
The three mergansers are as entertaining to observe as any birds, and all three species are quite attractive in their diverse plumage. The hooded is a freshwater habitué while the common is an occasional crossover between salt and fresh. The red-breasted is our prime candidate on the salt. The males are easy to identify while the female common and red-breasted share a striking resemblance. For comic relief, the head feathers of the red-breasted give it a punkrock look when ruffled even by a slight breeze. The smaller size and habitat preference of the hooded merganser make for easier identification in the field.
photo: Joe Meche
Male Red-breasted Merganser
There are several other species that fit into the role of diving ducks but the ones represented here are what I consider the premier diving birds of winter. Though technically not waterfowl but still under Roger Tory Peterson’s umbrella of “miscellaneous swimmers” and favorites of mine are the loons and grebes. Smaller alcids also fit into this category but remain farther out of sight from most observers, while the more popular divers are generally closer to shore and easier to observe.
The three species of loons that are reliably seen in local waters throughout the winter are the common, Pacific, and red-throated. A fourth species, the yellow-billed, is considered a rarity and one individual has been observed in early December in the channel between Blaine Harbor and Semiahmoo. This channel and the expanse of Semiahmoo Bay can be crowded as migrants begin to gather in early spring before heading to their nesting grounds. I have personally observed more than 2,000 loons between Semiahmoo and White Rock, British Columbia, between mid- March and the first week of April.
The family of grebes includes the graceful western grebe, the muscular red-necked, and the smaller horned grebe. If you pack a lunch and sit on the Plover ferry dock at Tongue Point, all of these grebes along with the loons will offer upclose and personal views for the ultimate field identification exercise. While the grebes tend to launch themselves before they dive, the heavier loons will appear to merely sink below the surface.
One of the more interesting facts about most of these birds is that most of them generally nest inland on freshwater lakes and ponds to the north and east, but choose the ice-free saltwater locations for their wintering habitat. As with so many living things, available food is the prime motivator. Again, it’s their entertaining behavior that attracts me, both as an observer and a photographer. A big part of the entertainment is to watch any of these species as they dive and then try to guess where and when they’ll surface. When they surface you have a quick opportunity to see what their prey is … and maybe grab a photo or two!
Dress in appropriate layers when you go out and let the divers entertain you through the colder winter months!
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Joe Meche is a past president of the North Cascades Audubon Society and was a member of the board of directors for 20 years. He has been watching birds for more than 60 years and photographing birds and landscapes for more than 40 years. He has written over 200 columns for Whatcom Watch.
