I checked out the farm fields just south of Stanwood around noon today and observed a White-tailed Kite near the road; it was hovering over the corn field. Sorry, I forget the official name of this area where the Snow Geese abound each winter. Ahah! Skagit Flats: is that it? There were no Snow Geese in these fields; there were, however, some hunters (?) in one of the SW fields and they appeared to be doing some sort of practice with stuffed white garbage bags (?), or something like that.

I also took the side road (Rt 529) into Everett and was treated to an up-close view of a female Northern Harrier on Smith Island in the very soggy field between the asphalt plant and marina sales - along the road to the riverside park and wastewater treatment plant; she glided, circled, hovered, and then plunged, flushing two Common Snipe from the grass. The harrier almost nabbed one snipe, but it did manage to elude her. She came back for a second try, but flushed no more birds and shortly flew away.

Best of Birding!
Judy

--
Judy Rowe Taylor
Mukilteo, WA
Art is a voice of the heart, a song of the soul.
judyrowetaylor at comcast.net
www.enduringibis.com