Dear Tweeters,

Today was a good day for birding in Skagit County. Several hard-to-find species turned up.

On Cockreham Island in a big full flock were single California, Mew, and Bonaparte's Gulls; the latter two rarely show up in the upper Skagit.

On Pulver Road was a dark Rough-legged Hawk (perching to show feathered tarsi).

At the West Ninety, among American Pipits, was at least one Lapland Longspur. A big shorebird flock nearby had over 170 Black-bellied Plover, 150 Dunlin, an American Golden Plover, and two calling Short-billed Dowitchers. A Short-eared Owl foraged among the many harriers. Six Snow Geese flew up from the dike, and 16 Greater White-fronted Geese flew southwards over the flats.

Out at the Samish Island Public Beach were 140 Western Grebes. The best find out there was a Common Tern, not a common bird in Skagit County. A few Harlequin Ducks, Red-throated Loons, and Red-necked Grebes made it feel as though winter birding had finally arrived.

At March's Point were close to a thousand each of Surf Scoter and Greater Scaup. A half-dozen Buffleheads and one Ruddy Duck were with them, as were a few Red-breasted Mergansers. Over on the west side of the point was a single Eared Grebe, not an easy bird to find in Skagit County. There was also a single Pied-billed Grebe and several Horned Grebe, along with a few Red-necked Grebes there. It would have been an eg-grebjious error to stay home on such a day.

Good birding!



Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

near Lyman (Skagit County), Washington

garybletsch at yahoo.com


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