On a sunny but cold, windy day the new ELWAS Beginning Birder Class took to
the field Saturday on their first bird chase. The SNOW GEESE were still
there, in one humongous gathering, on the WDFW site near the well-known BLACK-
CROWNED NIGHT HERON roost tree on Fir Island. And they saw TRUMPETER &
TUNDRA SWANS in two flocks - about twenty, across from the church on the
Island; another of about 300 in a big field east and below the road before you
turn off to LaConner.

Notables were: one SHORT-EARED OWL, 17 BALD EAGLES, (one pair changing
places on the airport nest near highway 20), 17 RED-TAILED HAWKS, (two
Harlan's). Half a dozen NORTHERN HARRIERS, one, a gorgeous female, performing
endlessly, spotlighted by the setting sun. Ten HARLEQUIN DUCKS, one ROUGH-
LEGGED HAWK. One Eurasian WIGEON.

Forty-four species. Not a spectacular count but the enthusiasm of fourteen
new birders was what mattered.

Amy McQuade
Mercer Island
McBrdwchr at aol.com