On Friday Kris Baker & I found our first turkey vulture of the season at the
end of Rawlins Rd on Fir Island; we also saw displaying rufous hummingbirds,
a northern shrike, tree and v-g swallows, & garter snakes. A few harriers,
eagles and red-tails were present, but no owls. West of Conway was a flock
of a few thousand snow geese right along the main road; it was convenient
that a construction crew was halting traffic right next to the flock.
At Bowman Bay by Deception Pass we got some very nice long looks at a couple
of pairs of marbled murrelets, along with pigeon guillemots and a common
loon. Kris was especially enthralled with a patch of blooming purple-eyed
grass, Sisyrinchium douglassi.
At Ebey's Landing we had nice views looking down on a patagial-tagged
harrier and a short eared owl; sunset and the day's weather were
spectacular!

Kevin Li
Ballard, USA
kdli at msn.com