I birded the Skagit and Samish flats today with my wife Jeni, seeing 55 species with some notable highlights. At the Jensen access we observed several Eurasian wideon and 2 American X Eurasian hybrids among a large raft of mallard / pintail / Am. wideon / teal. Also at the Jensen access we had nice views of a merlin chasing down some shorebirds. A large flock of Snow Geese was located adjacent to Mauplin rd where they were being periodically agitated by passing eagles.
Dodge valley rd. produced another Merlin and an American Kestrel.
Arriving in the Samish flats we had a close view of a Peregrine falcon on a power pole along Bayview-edison rd., immediately north of Sullivan rd. The West 90 produced the usuall suspects, Harriers, Short Eared Owls, Red Tailed Hawks, but also yielded a Rough-legged hawk and the immature Gyrfalcon, making for a 4 falcon day. The Gyrfalcon perched for a while along Sammish Is. rd stretching back toward Bayview-Edison before flying off to chase three separate Red-tailed hawks. Last of the highlights was a Barn owl located in the metal barn immediatly north of the West 90.

Cheers
Todd Pollard
(425) 430-0310
toddapollard at yahoo.com



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