Subject: Yesterday at the Samish/Skagit
Date: Dec 15 19:05:34 1996
From: Penelope or Brian Bell - bellasoc at isomedia.com


Hi Ho Tweets

This message was originally composed and attempted to be posted
yesterday evening, 14 Dec. Must have addressed it wrong. Second try.

This morning at the Samish there were 4 Snowy Owls at the West 90 at
about 9:15, two rather dark juveniles and two lighter birds. Also at
least 3 Short-eared Owls, 3 Rough-legged Hawks, a couple of Red-tails,
and a couple of Northern Harriers. Around 300 Dunlin in the field north
of the W90. Elsewhere on the Samish, about 15-20 Bald Eagles scattered
around, an immature Northern Shrike on Samish Island Road just north of
the W90, a Peregrine Falcon on Bayview-Edison Road south of the junction
with Samish Island Road, an immature Merlin on Farm to Market Road just
at Boe Road (to the east of F-M Rd), and a brown Gyrfalcon on a power
pole about 300 yards on F-M Rd. about 300 yards south of Boe Road.

The Gyrfalcon flew to the west and perched nearer to Bayview-Edison
Road. From there it flew NW in the direction of the W90, but on the way
both it and a Peregrine took the opportunity to do some concerted
harassement of a Bald Eagle. Quite a sight watching the Gyr going after
the Bald. The flight of the Gyr was impressive for its power and
beautiful for its grace. Both the Peregrine and the Gyr then landed and
gave good moderate distance scope views.

On March Point this afternoon about 1:30 there were 50+ Snow Buntings in
the vicinity of the tanks on the east side at the boat launch. Good
views both on the ground and perched on the tank superstructure.

On the Skagit, about 2000 Snow Geese in a grass field to the east of
where the bridge crosses the North Fork of the Skagit River - wonderful
music. Looked like about 9-10 Black-crowned Night-Herons in their tree.
An immature Cooper's Hawk perched in trees at the Skagit Refuge
Headquarters - great views.

Oh yes, sunny most of the day - how lucky can you get!


Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa 98072
(206) 285-8058