Subject: From British birder: Help with timing of a visit to Washington
Date: Nov 19 16:52:31 2003
From: B&P Bell - bellasoc at isomedia.com


Hi Paul

Tweeters is an entirely appropriate forum to inquire as to the best time
to see birds in the northwest. Early March would probably be a somewhat
better time to be able to find the birds you have expressed an interest
in seeing. All of the waterfowl as well as the wintering species are
still around. By the end of March many of them are starting to leave,
but are still findable.

All of the ducks are still here, and generally fairly easily locatable.
By mid-March Trumpeter and Tundra Swans are starting to leave, but are
still here in reduced numbers. The same holds true for the wintering
shorebirds. Most of our wintering raptors are still here in good numbers
in early March, but start to reduce by mid-March. For a couple of
species it is always problematic as to whether they will be here in any
numbers - i.e. Gyrfalcon and Snowy Owl. There are usually more Snowy
Owls in eastern Washington than in western, except in invasion years.
Northern Hawk Owl is a casual winter visitor, with 1-2 two potential in
western Washington, and as many as 4-5 east of the Cascade Mountains.

The birds you are interested in seeing are within easy reach of Seattle,
and most can be seen in one or two day trips - mostly here in western
Washington. Even eastern Washington can be done in a day for the most
part, depending on the exact location where a bird is to be found.

By March snow is much less likely in western Washington, and not
normally a severe problem in eastern Washington. Spring storms may still
bring snow to the mountains, occasionally somewhat impeding travel over
the passes. Most folks just dress for the weather - layer so you can add
or remove clothes as the weather/temperature demands. Raingear is a good
idea. It would probably be good to make note of the University of
Washington Atmospheric Sciences website for up-to-date weather
information (www.atmos.washington.edu/data). They have the complete
range of information - forecasts, satellite, radar, etc.

The best book for planning a trip is the new American Birding
Association Birdfinding Guide - A Birder's Guide to Washington (done in
cooperation with the Washington Ornithological Society), and just
released this October. It contains detailed bird routes for 9 sections
of the state (67 routes), up-to-date bar graphs of occurrence for
western and eastern Washington, an annotated checklist of the birds that
have occurred in Washington (including rarities not included in the bar
graphs), and brief accounts of mammals, amphibians and reptiles,
butterflies and dragonflies.

If you would like more information please get in touch with me - I also
do professional bird and natural history guiding (see my website listed
below) and would be pleased to discuss a trip if you are interested.

Brian H. Bell
President, Washington Ornithological Society
Birding and Natural History Guide
16440 NE 160th Street
Woodinville WA 98072
425-485-8058
bellasoc at isomedia.com
www.peregrinenorthwest.com

Paul Marshall wrote:

> I am not sure if this is the right forum for this kind of messge so I
> apologise if not.
>
> I am a British birder planning a trip to Washington and British
> Columbia next year. I am keen to time my trip to see the maximum
> numbers of wildfowl passing through the area whilst not leaving it to
> late to see wintering species (e.g. loons, Black Turnstone, Surfbird,
> Snowy Owl etc).
>
> Could somebody let me know the best time of year for such a trip -
> would early/mid March be OK? At this time of year is the weather
> (snow) a problem for seeing any species?
>
> Any information on which are the best books to use for planning such a
> trip would also be useful, along with any details of the best sites
> for some of the harder to see species (particularly interested in
> seabirds, wildfowl, grouse, woodpeckers and owls, especially Snowy and
> Hawk).
>
> Many thanks in advance
>
> Paul
>
> Paul Marshall
> Bristol, England
>
>
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