Today I visited Whidbey Island to scout for the CBC. North Whidbey Island is within the count circle of the Padilla Bay count.

I had to wait an hour at Freeland Park (8 to 9AM) for any sparrows at all to show up. But it was worth it. The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW showed up at the usual spot near the restrooms in the park. This time it was with a small group of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. No Golden-crowned. Just after I spotted the clay-colored, a MERLIN came out of nowhere and scattered the flock. All sparrows escaped this particular attack. The Merlin perched, so I figured that sparrow viewing was done for awhile.

The weather was beautiful today (very cold in the early AM). My daily tally was 79 species for Whidbey. Dipped on the Snowy Owl near the ferry terminal. I looked for it in the morning and also late afternoon. Just before dark, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS were hunting around Crockett Lake. Also at Crockett Lake today were a EURASIAN WIGEON, 3 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Near the ferry terminal there was a NORTHERN SHRIKE.

There were at least 18 LONG-TAILED DUCKS at the end of Hastie Lake Road. At high tide at the park in Oak Harbor were DUNLIN, BLACK TURNSTONE and a SURFBIRD.

It was a good day.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA