This afternoon (11/29) at about 1:00 pm Barbara and I found an American
Avocet next to Samish Island, as we stood in the parking lot of the church
just above Alice Bay, the water that separates the island from the Samish
Flats. (Delorme 109). The avocet was standing in the water next to a
Northern Pintail just off the point of land closest to the church. As we
were marvelling about the bird Irene Potter from Tacoma drove up and we all
tried without success to photograph the avocet through her spotting scope.
(sigh!) We need a workshop on digital photography through scopes.

Beyond that, the raptors continue plentiful: Gyr, Peregrine, Merlin all
seen, plus Rough-legged Hawks, harriers, and lots of Red-tails -- including
1 dark phase bird, and probably a Harlan's (I'll wait for a report from an
expert to confirm that one). Someone reportedly also saw a Prairie Falcon
in the vicinity. Interesting happenings: three ravens cornered an injured
Dunlin and quickly killed it, and a Short-eared Owl repeatedly dived on a
perched Rough-legged Hawk while another Short-eared Owl sat nearby and
watched.

Paul Webster
Seattle
paul.webster at comcast.net