On Saturday, I birded northwestern WA from dawn till dusk looking for
many of the recently reported birds.

South of Carnation on the corner of W. Snoqualmie River Rd. SE. and
Main St., I had all four Zonotrichia sparrows in my binocular view at
once, including the previously reported HARRIS' SPARROW as well as
three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS.

I could not locate the Gyrfalcon reported for the "old"
Snohomish-Monroe Highway. I found a WHISTLING SWAN mixed in with the
50 or so TRUMPETER SWANS and CANADA GEESE seen from the bridge over
the Pilchuk River.

Up at Stanwood, the GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was very accommodating at
the Wolfkill feedlot just off Pioneer highway. The BREWER'S
BLACKBIRDS and STARLINGS gave the unfamiliar visitor a wide berth,
seeming to avoid it like some infectious mutant.

At the Big Ditch Access, the two SNOWY OWLS remained on the same
driftwood perches where, apparently, they were seen last week, as if
glued in place. Two VIRGINIA RAILS grunted and at the water's edge,
a PEREGRINE harrassed a large DUNLIN flock (2000 birds--guesstimate)
with numerous BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS mixed in with dramatic stoops and
chases until it finally picked one off for lunch.

The NORTHERN HAWK-OWL at Stein Rd. near Blaine was a spectacular
life-bird, though in an hour of watching it, it didn't budge from its
perch.

I missed the BLACK-HEADED GULL when I reached the fields at 4pm at
36th St. and 72nd across the border in Delta, BC; apparently the
gulls vacate the fields and head for the mudflats during low tide.
The HOODED ORIOLE's last visit to the feeder at about 4:30pm at the
yellow house at the corner of Number 3 Rd and Jones St. in Richmond
provided some consolation.

Good birding,
Daniel
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Burke Museum
U. of Washington
Box 353010
Seattle, WA 98105-3010
Cell 206-595-2305
W 206-685-3866
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