We had 40 people on a cloudy, fairly nice day with quite good birding. We
went down the Swinomish Channel past the Skagit River North Fork jetty, by
Hope Island and other small rock island, out through Deception Pass, up to
Williamson's Rocks and then back to La Conner for this four hour cruise. 44
species were seen on the cruise with 51 total for the day. This is most seen
on any cruise in last six years. Following is a list of the species seen.

Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Trumpeter Swan - seen on way to La Conner
Greater White-fronted Goose - seen on Rawlins Road after leaving La Conner
Snow Goose - seen on way to La Conner
Brant
American Wigeon
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Canvasback
Harlequin Duck - 4 at Williamson's Rocks
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle - 24 total, 15 on cruise
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk - 15 total only 1 on cruise
Black Turnstone - many on jetty at N. Fork of Skagit R.
Surfbird - 3 on jetty
Sanderling - 1
Dunlin - a few on jetty
Black Oystercatcher - many on jetty and all rocky islands, most of any trip
to date.
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre - 1
Pigeon Guillemot - very numerous
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Rock Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
American Crow
Common Raven - on way to La Conner
American Robin - on way to La Conner
European Starling
House Sparrow
House Finch
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird - on way to La Conner
Brewer's Blackbird - on way to La Conner

Hugh Jennings