Howdy Y'all,

Kristi and I decided to spend the day (yesterday) birding up near Blaine.
This was the first time we had really explored the area in winter, and we
were pleasantly surprised at the diversity and density of wintering marine
species. At the Semiahmoo Marina, we located the King Eider sitting on the
southernmost outer floats, and also actively foraging for mussels around
these floats. He put on quite a display for us. A large immature Cooper's
Hawk sat in a tree, doing a little Eider-watching of her(?) own.

Another couple hours walking around the resort area at the tip of the spit
provided excellent looks at Common & Red-throated Loons and Horned,
Red-necked, & Western Grebes. We got amazing, extended looks at 6
Long-tailed Ducks from only about 20 yards away - I've never gotten a chance
to study them from this distance with a scope, and you could see incredible
detail. Harlequin Ducks, both Goldeneyes, both Scaup, Red-breasted
Mergansers, Surf & WW Scoters were all present in numbers and ventured quite
close to shore. Later on we stopped at a couple other places, including
Bitch Bay State Park, which had most of the same species (and featured huge
numbers of White-wing Scoters - several hundred at least).

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Hans


Hans de Grys
Bothell, WA