Photos / Sounds
What
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)Observer
bizz1288Description
Saw a foraging flock catching insects over Big Beef Creek.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)Observer
bizz1288Description
Saw several females and males in a small pond alongside other waterfowl. Males had black heads, yellow eyes, light gray flanks, and a distinctive white hook on the side. Females were less visible so didn't get a good look, but noted that they looked dark brown and were smaller than the males.
What
Dust Lichens (Genus Lepraria)Observer
bizz1288Description
Dust lichens growing on a willow. Minty green. Touched them and they came off the willow like dust.
What
Fungi Including Lichens (Kingdom Fungi)Observer
bizz1288Description
Crustose lichen form, growing on a willow. White.
What
Shield Lichen (Parmelia sulcata)Observer
bizz1288Description
Foliose lichen growing on a willow. Upper cortex a subtle mint green, lower cortex a black. Ridges present on its upper cortex.
Photos / Sounds
What
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)Observer
bizz1288Description
Invasive. Saw two fairly large squirrels climbing in a tree an eating seeds. Not sure what tree species they were in. They were mostly grey, but I noticed an orange tint near their heads and along their tails, as well as white undersides.
What
Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)Observer
bizz1288Description
Invasive. Grows in large clusters in areas with low amounts of shade.
What
Common Ivy (Hedera helix)Observer
bizz1288Description
Vines growing on willows and black cottonwoods. Alternate leaves and each leaf has 3-5 lobes. Invasive.
What
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)Observer
bizz1288Description
Saw only one male. Could only see its head, as the rest of its body was blocked. It was preening on the bank with lots of American wigeons, some wood ducks, and a green-winged teal. Had a long neck that was reddish/brown and white, and a pale yellow breast.
Photos / Sounds
What
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)Observer
bizz1288Description
Saw some males and females, but the males were most distinctive. Noticed the males' read heads with green, iridescent stripes around their eyes. A yellow patch near their rumps. Dabbling like mallards, pointing their rumps into the air.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus)Observer
bizz1288Description
A small, very round brown bird.A cocked tail as is typical in wrens. Very vocal, giving a sort of dry chirp. It was low to the ground and perched on some fallen branches that were sticking up before it left.
Photos / Sounds
What
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)Observer
bizz1288Description
Only seen for a few seconds. Landed in a tree's branches, and caught a glimpse of its blue body and its prominent black crown. Heard it call several times.
What
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)Observer
bizz1288Description
Saw this bird back in Yesler Swamp's wooded portion. Exciting since they are usually secretive! It flew into the branches of a tree and began eating some red berries growing on a vine. A song sparrow later approached it and it took off. A black head, reddish brown sides, and a white breast. Looked about the size of an American robin.
What
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)Observer
bizz1288Description
A little wren with a brown body but an obvious white supercilium. Tail is cocked and has a long, curved bill.
What
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)Observer
bizz1288Description
Saw two males. White crests, and heads are otherwise black. Brown flanks, black tails, and three white stripes near their tails. One dove and caught fish.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red Alder (Alnus rubra)Observer
bizz1288Description
Grey trunk. Doubly serrated leaf margins. Alternate leaves.
What
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)Observer
bizz1288Description
Dabbling duck. Saw four males and four females. Females are mostly brown and are smaller than the males. Males have yellowish heads and green stripes running from their eyes to their napes. Tail feathers are black and the rest of the body looks mostly brown.
Photos / Sounds
What
Audubon's Warbler (Setophaga coronata ssp. auduboni)Observer
bizz1288Description
A flock of these flitting around in the upper branches of some willows. Could not get a good view of them, but was able to see a first winter female. She had two distinct yellow markings: one was near her tail and the other under her wing. She looked a light tan otherwise.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)Observer
bizz1288Description
A dark head, wings, and back, with a red breast. Saw it foraging on the ground amidst red-flowering currants.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)Observer
bizz1288Description
Mostly brown, but had a white coloration on its head. Curved neck that resembled that of a great blue heron in flight. Dove multiple times.
Photos / Sounds
What
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)Observer
bizz1288Description
Saw this hawk sitting up high in the bare branches of a tree. Breast was speckled with white and pale orange, and it had a long, thin tail. Its head had a dark grey color that continued down its nape, onto its back, its wings, and tail. Yellow talons. Hooked bill.
What
Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)Observer
bizz1288Description
Alternate leaves. Buds near stipules and terminal buds. Serrated leaf margins. Leaves have 5 lobes. Reddish bark.
What
Licorice Fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza)Observer
bizz1288Description
Epiphytic fern growing on a willow tree. Very finely serrated margins on the leaflets.
What
Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis)Observer
bizz1288Description
Alternate leaf arrangement. Prominent green buds at the branch tips. I crushed a leaf and it smelled like cucumber.
Photos / Sounds
What
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)Observer
bizz1288Description
Alternate leaf arrangement. 5 lobes. Serrated leaf margins. Leaves feel fuzzy.
What
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)Observer
bizz1288Description
High "chip chip" call. Red/brown stripes running down its crown, near its eyes, and near its bill. Brown and white speckled breast and white belly.
What
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)Observer
bizz1288Description
A common shrub throughout Yesler Swamp. Opposite leaves. Leaves have prominent veins and entire leaf margins. White, glossy fruits growing at the branches' tips. Red bark on branches.
What
Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies (Order Agaricales)Observer
bizz1288Description
Gilled mushroom. Dark brown/red coloration near the top of its cap with a lighter brown around its margins. Off center stipe. Umbonate cap. Either undulating or eroded cap margins. Gills look subdistant. Unsure if they are slightly attached or free from the cap.
What
Artist's Bracket (Ganoderma applanatum)Observer
bizz1288Description
Growing on a willow. Very hard to the touch. Dark brown cap with nearly white margins and underside. Convex and uneven cap with entire margins. Saw four others like the one pictured growing on the willow.