Subject: Possible "Bewick's Swan" at the Skagit
Date: Feb 22 20:18:56 2004
From: Dougnpip at aol.com - Dougnpip at aol.com


This morning, just about 1 mile east of LaConner, I had what
resembled a Bewick's Swan in a field north of the highway. This perhaps is the same
bird reported by the Sullivan's on an earlier post. The yellow extended about
1/3 the length of the bill down from the lores and was very noticable in
comparing it with several Tundra Swans in the group.
Also at the Hayden Reserve on Fir Island, while scoping some distant
waterfowl, I noticed a lone shorebird about 25 yds away. It resembled a S-b
Dowitcher at first but further study revealed black legs, only a very faint
eye stripe, a dowitcher-type black bill with the slightest droop at the end,
winter plumage markings of a Dunlin, with grey head, neck, back and primaries,
ending with a sharp line across the breast seperating a solid white belly and
undertail. The flank was all white also. I got it fly twice and the bird made
no sound when it flew plus the tail markings resembled that of a Dunlin, not a
Dowitcher sp. The body was not barrel-chested as a dowitcher, being more
slender. Ckecking "Shorebirds by Haymen, Marchant and Prater, the bird resembled
very closely to the subspecies "sakhalina" of Dunlin, which breeds in NE USSR
and Northern Alaska, and winters in China, Japan.
My camera was not the best so not sure if that will be help. It
proves once again what a challenge shorebirds can be! If anyone else has had
this bird or sees it comments would be very appreciated.
Good birding,
Doug Watkins
Bainbridge Is Wa