On 12.24 I birded from Seattle to Bellingham while en route to a family holiday gathering. Also did some birding in the Bellingham area. Below are a few highlights.

12.24.05
Snowy Owl - 1 at Hayden Snow Goose Farm on Fir Island in Skagit County. The wind nearly blew the scope and tripod from my grasp!
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - 1 at the North Fork on Fir Island in Skagit county. Too many hunters;didn't look for Snowl Owls.
Pacific Golden Plover - 1 juv at the Samish Flats north of the Samish "T" , between the T and the East 90, in Skagit County.
This is possibly the same individual that was at the West 90 on 11.05.05. On both occasions, the bird was in the company of Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlins.

12.25.05
Birded Wiser Lake, on Hwy 539, a few miles north of Bellingham. There were thousands of ducks of many species, including both scaups, Canvasback and Eurasian Wigeon. There were also 2 Greater White-fronted Geese and 40 or 50 Trumpeter Swans. A Merlin flew overhead. There was another Merlin to the southeast of Wiser Lake near the corner of Smith and Sand Roads.

Happy New Year!

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA