Birded most of Whidbey Is Saturday with Bob Norton, Paul Conklin,
and Judy Mullally. We saw many waterbirds including large numbers of
Red-throated Loons along the westside from Keystone to Swantown, with the
usual Horned Grebes, Surf and White-winged Scoters, Western Grebes, Harlequin
Ducks, and 4-5 Long-tailed Ducks and so on. Speaking of Scoters, Penn Cove
had a huge number of Surf Scoters flying about toward the center. We
estimated around 4-5000 which was probably conservative. Also at Penn Cove
were approx 60 Blackturnstones, 20 Surfbirds, 2 Eared Grebes, a small flock
of Western Grebes, and several Common Loons. Waterfowl numbers were
moderate with a large flock of American Widgeon at Cultus Bay with scattered
birds elswhere of Northern Pintails, Mallards, and few Green-wing Teal.
Shorebirds were scarce with about 75 Sanderlings south of Swantown with a
lone BB Plover here also.
It was a great day of birding with wonderful weather,
Doug Watkins
dougnpip at aol.com
Bainbridge Is wa