Hi Tweets, yesterday Henning Stabins, Amy Renkert, and I did a 'Big Duck'
birding day, to try to see as many members of the order Anseriformes as
possible in one day. Thanks to everyone who gave tips on where to find
things. Well, here are the results. Total was 29, somewhat less than the
33-37 target zone, and a little disappointing for me. Basically we ran
out of time (wasted too much of it looking for one species and being lost
in Kent). But it was fun, and we couldn't have asked for a better day to
spend birding. Below is the play-by-play:

The morning started off well, as you will see, then the afternoon
fizzled. For each location, I only list the 'new' species for the trip
picked up there.

0700: met at my house and load up.
0715: departed
0730-0930: We birded Lake Washington from Seward Park to the Montlake Fill.
Seward Park - Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, American
Wigeon, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Merganser
South of I-90 - Red-breasted Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Ruddy Duck
Arboretum - Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Greater
Scaup (in the Montlake Cut), Hooded Merganser
Montlake Fill - Mute Swan
0930-1000: Drove to Alki
1000-1030: Muffin break at Alki bakery
1030-1200: Alki Point and Alki Beach area - Brant, Harlequin Duck, Black
Scoter, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Barrow's Goldeneye.
1200-1300: Drove around Kent looking for the pond with the Greater
White-fronted Goose, located it at 1300. Also got 4 species of
introduced Anseriforms (which we didn't count): Black Swan, Chinese
Goose, Rouen Duck, Muscovy Duck. Also tried several wooded ponds
for Wood Duck, no success. Also found Pintail in several wetlands.
1300-1400: Drove north to North Seattle Community College, to search in vain
for a Wood Duck, which had eluded as at all stops so far. We dipped, and
decided to not waste any more time looking for this species. We also
decided to not try Everett for Black Ducks due to lack of time.
1400-1600: Drove north to Skagit Flats, birded this area - Tundra Swan
Trumpeter Swan, Snow Goose.
1600-1800: Drove north to Samish Flats, birded this area - dipped on
Ross' Goose and Great Gray Owl. Someone had flushed the owl 20 minutes
before our arrival, so it was still around. We searched the areas around
Field and Thomas roads and Avon-Allen Rd north of the Samish River
intensely for the goose (wanting to break 30), but no luck. Darkness cut
off plans for further ducking (such as Redheads at Beaver Lake, King
Eider and Oldsquaw at Whidbey, and any dad-burned Wood Duck).

Although our day wasn't the example of Big Duck efficiency, it was fun.
I think greater scouting about beforehand could have saved us alot of
grief (like trying to find a place for a Wood Duck without wasting 2
hours doing so). A truly 'perfect' Big Duck could still be pulled off in
the next few weeks, with the following added possibilities, to net 37
species. A better route would be to start at the Kent GWFG site at dawn,
then north to West Seattle, across Columbian Way to Lake Washington, north
to Skagit/Samish Flats, and north to B.C. Any takers?

Wood Duck (of course!)
American Black Duck - Everett STP
Ross' Goose on Samish Flats
Redheads at Beaver Lake
King Eider on Whidbey I.
Oldsquaw on Whidbey I.
Cinnamon Teal at Iona ponds
Tufted Duck at Lost Lagoon

And since we're nearing Spring, the possibility also arises of early
Blue-winged Teal. (And don't forget a Learjet could get you to Tofino to
add the Falcated Teal!)


-------------
Michael R. Smith
Univ. of Washington, Seattle
whimbrel at u.washington.edu
http://salmo.cqs.washington.edu/~wagap/mike.html