On Sat., Jim Ganley and I took John Deppman from Vermont. His first time in
the NW. We got to Stilliguamish Flats at Silvana about 0900, followed Norman
Rd to Boe Rd, then Stanwwod sewage ponds, north to Skagit Flats, Bayview SP,
Samish Flats and Samish Is. It rained off and on most of the day which
hindered the birding. We saw a total of 54 species for the day.

We did not see any Black-crowned Night-Herons at usual spot on Fir Is. Road
and only had three raptor species, a number each of Bald Eagle, Red-tailed
Hawk and Northern Harrier. There were 5-10 thousand Snow Geese covering both
sides of Boe Road. Also saw at least two Eurasian Wigeon among a few hundred
American Wigeon. 3-400 Trumpeter Swan east of hwy 237 a couple mile north of
N. Fork of Skagit R. with a few Tundra Swan mixed in.

Eating lunch at Bayview State Park in the rain, but under the nice, new
shelter we saw a number of Brant, Oldsquaw, Common Goldeneye, and Common Loon.
In ponds on Samish Flats before the T, we saw a number of Black-bellied Plover
with a few Dunlin. In the next field we saw a beautiful male Ring-necked
Pheasant.

At the park at the end of Samish Is. overlooking Samish Bay, we added Red-
breasted Merganser, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter,
Western Grebe and Horned Grebe. We had a total of 15 duck species for the
day, with 8 species in one large pond along Norman Road. Also saw one Greater
Yellowlegs at the same pond. It was a good trip despite the rain and John
ended up with a number of "life" birds.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA