Tweets,

Tuesday, Feb. 22, I birded a few spots in Skagit & Whatcom Counties: Fir
Island, Samish Flats, Drayton Harbor. The scenery was as unforgettable as
the birds, with Mts. Baker & Shuksan gleaming in the afternoon sun, and
sunset over the Olympics providing breathtaking backdrops for some
spectacular birding. Highlights (nothing not previously reported):

Fir Island area (12:30-2:00)
> Trumpeter Swan (6 - south 1 mile on Pioneer Rd)
> Barn Swallow (1 or 2 - 100 yds down dike trail past boatlaunch)
> Snow Geese (congregated near N Fork bridge)
Hwy 20
> N. Shrike (on powerline 1/4 mile before Padilla Bay turnoff)
Samish Flats (2:30-3:30)
> Gyrfalcon (4th pole E and 2nd pole N of W90 - very "tame" and hungry)
> Glaucous Gull (in moist spot in plowed field W of 7-8th pole N of W90 -
like a big snowball among the roosting Glaucous-wings)
> Bald Eagles (16+ from W90, approx 25 for the day)
> Rough-legged Hawk (2-3, one nice dark phase)
Drayton Harbor (Semiahmoo spit/resort N of Birch Bay) (4:30-6:00)
> 6-800 loons (conservative guess; mostly Pacifics, non-breeding plumage,
in tight feeding flock off the pier/boardwalk at the resort)
> Long-tailed Duck (1 male close in, winter plumage)
> Harlequin Duck (6)
> White-winged Scoter (I've never seen so many in one location)

Good birding!

Paul Hicks
Tenino
phicks AT accessgrace.org