Subject: Samish Flats
Date: Jan 4 22:04:05 2004
From: Carol Riddell - cariddell at mac.com


It was 18 degrees this morning but a bright blue sky and January sun
beckoned. Spent the morning with the Sunday paper and enjoying the yard
birds. But by noon I couldn't contain myself. I had to take advantage of a
windless day. Packed up the scope and headed for the Samish Flats. I-5 was
bare and dry. The side roads reminded me why I love the Subaru Outback.
Very, very icy compact snow. Brilliant white snow in the fields with golden
stubble erupting through here are there. The flashing yellow of Western
Meadowlarks in almost every field. A few other birders at the West 90
enjoying the convention of Short-eared Owls. The pleasure of meeting Marv
Breece and getting some one-on-one tutoring on the finer points of some of
the raptors. I would not have spotted and enjoyed the immature Gyrfalcon
without his assistance. I will also have a better idea of how to quickly
spot the field markings of a Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk, thanks to Marv. Both
male and female Harriers were out (no tagged wings to report to Jack), as
was an immature Bald Eagle. Marv left only five minutes before two Barn
Owls appeared. Four o'clock. Time to get going before the back roads
turned to skating rinks with the setting sun. Wow, what a great January
afternoon and what a wonderful community of birders we have.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds