Samish Flats with lots of shorebirds on 25 February Master Birders field
trip, although couldn't find golden-plover or Stilt Sandpiper reported
previously. Falcons having a heyday, with 3 Peregrines (one of them down
on Skagit Flats) and 4 Merlins seen, all chasing those poor nervous Dunlins
and Black-bellied Plovers. Only prey-capture reports were 2 Buffleheads
caught by Peregrines (hunters call them "butterballs;" they must be yummy).

Hundred or more swans on Samish Flats included thoroughly mixed Tundras and
Trumpeters, probably best distant field mark the iron-stained head and neck
of Trumpeters, pure white head and neck of Tundras. Several times we saw
both species flying together.

Thousands of Snow Geese on Thomle Road just south of Stanwood provided
fantastic photo ops, grazing within less than 20 meters of parked vans.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416