Subject: THANKS for RFI responses!
Date: Feb 19 13:10:26 2004
From: Steve Barlow - sb326 at mail.gatech.edu


Thanks very much to everyone who responded to my "RFI: Gyrfalcon" etc
message to Tweeters. Here are the highlights of my trip (which worked
out very well due with more birding time than I hoped for among the
work, and to reasonable weather).

12 Feb pm
Gene Coulon Park - 1st winter Thayer's Gull
Bainbridge Is - Black Scoter and Pigeon Guillemot on crossing from
Seattle; great looks at Saw-Whet (life bird) and Barred Owls thanks
to Jamie Acker

14 Feb pm
Cedar River Mouth - ad California Gull, WF Geese
Gene Coulon Park - Glaucous Gull - very distant bird on the lake, 1st or 2nd w

15 Feb
Ridgefield NWR - on autotour loop had both Swan spp, Rough-legged
Hawk, masses of Canada Geese of which majority were Cackling and a
smallish pale-bellied type I'm assuming was Taverner's, but also
regular "Western" types and a small number of beautiful Duskies (this
subspp was a new bird for me). I also saw several Swallows which
seemed to be Northern Rough-winged and which I didn't pay too much
attnetion to at the time, being busy concentrating on the RL Hawk I
think. However, consulting the new Birder's Guide to WA (which I was
unaware of when I posted my query, but which people suggested I buy
and which has been an excellent ref), this seems a very unusual
sighting for the time of year, so maybe I was imagining things ...
On Oaks and Wetlands trail had a male Eurasian Wigeon, Sooty Fox and
Golden-crowned Sparrows.
Midway Beach - very busy with people and vehicles, but did find some
Snowy Plovers above the tideline and a Peregrine on the side of the
lagoon blocking the road.
Westport - ran out of light quickly, but did manage a few
Red-throated Loons in Gray's Hbr entrance.

17 Feb
Had a brief look for the Gyr at Snohomish, but didn't find it. Lots
of Swans. Next birded Samish Flats, but again no Gyr. Plenty of
Short-eared Owls, Rough-legged Hawks (incl both imm and ad dark phase
birds - I'd not seen dark phase before), 1 apparent Harlan's Hawk
(imm? v distant). From further out on Samish Is had lots of good
stuff from the small park on the N side of the is (described in
Birder's guide, can't remember name offhand and don't have book with
me at work) incl White-winged and Surf Scoters, Long-tailed Duck,
Harlequin, Red-necked Grebe, Pigeon Guillemot.
From further out on the point had "Gray-bellied" Brants on the water
to the S (another new form for me).
Both spp of Swans on the more inland parts of the flats. Found a
couple of male Eurasian Wigeons without trying very hard.
On into BC where I failed to find the GG Owl at UBC, not helped by
rain. Did see some nice Varied Thrushes.

18 Feb
Again, no GG Owl at UBC in the rain.
Boundary Bay Park (BC) - a Eurasian Wigeon with Am Wig's (also in
fields nearby), Northern Shrike (along entrance rd), "Gray-bellied"
Brant, Long-tailed Duck etc offshore.
Reifel Sanctuary (BC)- no Saw-whets (the only one seen on the prev
day was not in that location), but did have American Bittern,
Trumpeter Swan, Barn Swallow. Sooty Fox, "Gambel's" W-C, G-C and dark
(morphana?) Song Sparrows were nice to see close up at the feeders.
Samish Flats again. Most of the same stuff as prev day - some hawks
on exactly the same poles! However, also had a Merlin (tree opposite
church, exactly as described in Birder's Guide, apparently a Tundra
race fem) and ... eventually ... the truely magnificent imm grey
Gyrfalcon (life bird). Superb views of it perched on a post only 30
yds from me, flying to another post when buzzed by a SE Owl,
kelptoparasatizing from Harrier/SEOwl/RL Hawk (not sure which bird
actually dropped the mouse), and perched on a utility pole very close
eating the mouse. What a great bird!

I've probably missed something as I don't have my notes in front of
me, but these were the things that sprang to mind. Thanks again to
everyone who sent advice.

Cheers
Steve
--
Dr Stephen Barlow,
Senior Research Scientist
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
Georgia Institute of Technology,
Atlanta, GA 30332-0400, USA
Phone: 404-385-6053
Fax: 404-385-6057
Email: stephen.barlow at chemistry.gatech.edu