Hey,

I went birding with the family yesterday on the Skagit and Samish Flats and
we had quite a few highlights. We started at the Skagit Game Range, where
within a minute of getting out of the car we counted no less than 22 BARN
SWALLOWS flying just west of the headquarters parking lot. I found this to
be an astounding number, and was wondering if others have seen a flock of
this size at all this winter. Other cool stuff at the Game Range included
Greater Yellowlegs, White-throated Sparrow and the flock of Snow Geese (all
10,000 of them?) flying southeast overhead.

Also, near the corner of Wylie Rd and Mann Rd (near the entrance to the Game
Range), I relocated the RUSTY BLACKBIRD within the large flock of Brewer's
and Red-winged Blackbirds. I only got a brief look before the flock was
flushed by a hungry Merlin.

To end the day, we worked our way north to the Samish Flats where we saw the
Gyr and stuff, but all that has already been posted by other Tweeters.

Good Migrations,

Houston Flores
Bellingham, Wa
houstonflores AT hotmail.com