Although it was raining in Bellevue when we left, it quit north of Everett and
we had a dry, but windy day for the cruise on Sat. 24 people showed up for the
cruise with Ken McDonald on the 58' Viking Star. East L. Wash., Seattle,
Pilchuck, Skagit and San Juan Is. Audubon Societies were represented with some
unaffliated nature lovers. We went north up the Swinomish Channel into Padilla
Bay, near Hat, Saddlebag, and Huckleberry Islands and back down the channel.

Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Trumpeter Swan - many birds congregated at numerous locations on Fir Island,
Skagit Flats and Stilliguamish Flats.
Tundra Swan - assume a few Tundras were with the Trumpeters
Snow Goose - 4-5000 on Fir Island near N. Fork Skagit R. bridge.
Canada Goose
Brant
American Wigeon
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Canvasback
Lesser Scaup
Oldsquaw - 80-100 were scattered throughout Padilla Bay
Surf Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron - at usual location along Fir Is. Road
Bald Eagle - 10 on cruise, 8 along Norman Road on way home
Northern Harrier - 4 plus 2 at new access next to Black-crowned Night-Heron
area
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon - 1 under peak of barn at new access next to BCNH area
American Coot
Mew Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Loon - 9
Rock Dove
Belted Kingfisher - 5 (3 male and 2 female)
Northern Flicker
American Crow
American Robin
European Starling
House Sparrow
House Finch
Song Sparrow

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA
hughbirder at aol.com