Subject: Mar 25th Skagit Flats Birding
Date: Mar 28 07:19:02 2000
From: WAYNE WEBER - WAYNE_WEBER at bc.sympatico.ca


Peter and Tweeters,

Just a brief comment on your report. The large flock of geese you
reported on Fir Island in the Skagit Flats was almost certainly Snow
Geese, not Ross' Geese. (Perhaps this was just a brief mental lapse?)
Ross' Geese can occasionally be found on the Skagit/Stilliguamish
flats and around the Fraser Delta, but usually only as stray
individuals among huge flocks of Snow Geese.

Wayne Weber
Kamloops, B.C.
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca


-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Sullins <thesullinsfamily at earthlink.net>
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Saturday, March 25, 2000 5:52 PM
Subject: Mar 25th Skagit Flats Birding


>All -
>
> Birded Padilla Bay (Bay View SP) and Skagit Flats today.
>Weather cool (mid-40's) and breezy with light overcast. Wind
>frm the south to southwest.
>
> Padilla Bay was relatively quiet, few gulls, 20 or so
>Buffleheads and a Loon far out in the Bay, towards the
>Heronry. Stayed until the picnickers (even in this weather)
>and their dogs showed up.
>
> Headed towards Fir Island by way of La Conner. On the
>Bay View-Edison Rd (Delorme pg 95, A5) there's a small
>Skagit County Park along the northern dike of a small
>slough. Stopped to watch a GBH having lunch. Saw two fish
>taken. Again more people and dogs arrived and the Heron said
>"See ya later..."
>
> However, on Wylie Road on Fir Island (going frm La
>Conner to Conway, past the fruit stand and just around the
>next bend in Fir Island Road to the south) came upon an
>extremely large gathering of Ross' Geese. A very large
>number covering probably an entire acre of land. Some
>feeding, some sleeping, some just doing. Many banded. Many
>folks stopping to look and take pictures which seemed to not
>disturb the geese at all. All ages, including many immature,
>brownish stripes.
>
> Never saw anything like this before, except maybe salmon
>returning up river.
>
>Peter
>
>The Sullins Family
>In The Village of Silver Firs
>Everett, WA
>mail to: TheSullinsFamily at earthlink.net
>
>
>