Hi Tweets -

Took my group of nonbirders from Inner City Outings (six neat kids
13-15) up north today. We started out in the Stanwood area. In the area
between Boe and Thomle Roads was a group of about 12-15,000 Snow Geese.
Difficult to tell accurately because of the distance (they were about
equidistant from both roads - but because of the total area covered and
the packing density I think that is a reasonable estimate. Also had a
group of about 40 swans a little east of the Snow Geese - again too
distant to sort out by type. For these kids got great views,
particularly thru the scope of an adult Bald Eagle perched in a
cottonwood tree by the Stillaguamish River. For a non-birder kid the
view of this bird at about 30 power is a mind blower.

Worked our way up to Fir Island - really deserted. One small patch of
Snow Geese, too obscured to count or see well west of Wylie Rd. A couple
of small flocks of Trumpeter Swans, and lots of Bald Eagles.

For the day we had probably 25+ Bald Eagles, maybe 15 Red-tailed Hawks
and one male Northern Harrier. A highlight for the kids was a tour group
of U. of Minnesota alumni who stopped by the Brazeale Interpretive
Center. As part of their group were folks they had brought out from the
Minnesota Raptor Center. These folks had several rehabilitated, but
unreleasable, birds with them. Included a Bald Eagle, a Great Horned
Owl, a very pale Peregrine Falcon and a male American Kestrel. To see
these birds up close (as near as 10 feet) was, I am sure, a real treat
for the kids.

We stopped back by the Stanwood area on the way home, and the swans and
geese were still around. The geese had moved a little further west, but
still distant. Given the dearth on Fir Island, I think most of them were
down between Boe and Thomle.

Good Birding,

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
bellasoc at isomedia.com