Hi Tweets

A belated report from yesterday up on the Samish. I spent most of the
day, between rainstorms as it turned out, up on the Samish Flats
(DeLorme p. 109, D5) and finished up down at the Skagit/Fir Island.
Coming up along the Chuckanut Drive road there were several fields with
TRUMPETER SWANS in them, and one had a few TUNDRA SWANS in the group.
There were loads of RED-TAILED HAWKS around, including a couple of
really dark morphs - I probably saw close to thirty birds yesterday.
Also present were a couple of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS including one
completely dark morph. This bird was an extremely dark brown (almost
black), but confirmed it's identity when it flew showing the
characteristic underwing and tail patterns. It was hanging out most of
the morning just to the north of the east 90 (Bayview Edison Rd) perched
on one of the telephone poles.

Also present was a dark morph HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK. Part of the time
it was just east of the T of Bayfview Edison Rd and Samish Island Rd.
and part of the time in the grove near the intersection of Bayview
Edison and Sullivan Rds. In the same vicinity was a PEREGRINE FALCON
perched on one of the power poles - it's position was such that you have
to find just the right angle to get a good view - but it was a pretty bird.

Out at the WDFW lot at the West 90 there was lots of activity with at
least 5 NORTHERN HARRIERS visible. There was one male, a couple of
females and the rest either females or immatures including one of Jack
Bettesworth's wing tagged birds. A SHORT-EARED OWL was also coursing
over the fields. The highlight of the day was the juvenile grey-morph
GYRFALCON. It was perched on a pole south of the lot at a distance of
about 200 yards, but facing the lot and gave a large chesty appearance
with a heavily streaked breast. I walked part of the way out toward the
bird and got to within about 75 yards of it. Very nice looking bird
through the scope, with heavy dark brown vertical streaks on the breast
and belly, lightish head with a somewhat pale supercilium and faint
darker eyeline and darkish moustachial mark. A brief glimpse was had of
the banded tail, but the shorter primaries than the tail were prominent.

Around 30 BALD EAGLES, mostly adults were seen during the day. Later in
the day, there was another PEREGRINE FALCON along the portion of Bayview
Edison Rd north of SR20 and before the ninety degree turn to the east.
Further south, a female AMERICAN KESTREL was perched alongside Dodge
Valley Rd as it begins it's turn around the hill (DeLorme p. 95, AB5).
On Fir Island a couple of red-tails were seen. Several large flights of
SNOW GEESE heading east off of Skagit Bay and then turning slightly to
the northeast. I cruised around Fir Island and could not find any snows
in any of the fields, and indeed I did not see a field that looked
favorable to them (no corn or grain stubble and mostly freshly plowed).
I speculate that they flew on closer to Mt. Vernon. A while later, south
of Stanwood there were large numbers of SNOW GEESE in the field south of
Boe Rd (with several hunters sitting in empty fields north of the road).

A pretty good day, and no rain until on the last leg home.

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA
bellasoc at isomedia.com