Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit Birding - 12/30/2005
Date: Dec 31 01:02:07 2005
From: Ryan Merrill - rjm284 at gmail.com


I spent the day birding up in Skagit County in mostly dry conditions. I
hoped for Ancient Murrelets or possibly even phalaropes off Green Point and
Rosario Head but didn't have any luck. I also missed the Pacific
Golden-Plover around Samish, but in the afternoon enjoyed nice views of 3
different Snowy Owls.

Some highlights:
Red-throated Loon - 250+ Rosario Head
American Bittern - 1 walking around at the North Fork Access
Cackling Goose - 2 with Snow Geese on Fir Island
Eurasian Wigeon - 28 from Samish Island in a quick scan of only a small
portion of the ducks on Padilla Bay
American Kestrel - 1 Benson Road
Merlin - 1 Conway
Peregrine Falcon - 2 Samish Flats
Black Oystercatcher - 1 Rosario Head
Long-billed Dowitcher - 65! Skagit Game Range (i'm assuming they're
long-billed - I didn't hear them call)
Greater Yellowlegs - 10 Skagit Game Range
Common Murre - 50+ Green Point
Pigeon Guillemot - 10 Green Point, 20 Rosario Head
Marbled Murrelet - 20+ Green Point
Snowy Owl - 2 Jensen Access, 1 dark bird Hayton Reserve
Short-eared Owl - 2 North Fork Access
Varied Thrush - 5 Rosario Head

Ryan Merrill
Kirkland, WA
merrillr AT bc.edu