Tweeters,

I just wanted to echo Guy's comments on the Short-eared Owls on the Lummi Flats. These birds were in the fields south of South Red River Rd. It was the greatest concentration of Short-eared Owls I've ever seen, and a spectacular sight. It wasn't unusual to see four birds in a single binocular field. The number of raptors on the flats is really incredible.

And to clarify, we saw hundreds of Red-throated Loons at Deception Pass. No alcids there other than Pigeon Guillemot, and we couldn't even find one Pelagic Cormorant.

Good birding,
Matt Dufort
Seattle, WA

----- Original Message ----
From: Guy McWethy <lguy_mcw at yahoo.com>
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 9:42:36 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Deception Pass and Lummi Flats, Sat 2/11


Tweets,
Saturday Aaron Martin, Matt Dufort, and myself went up
to Deception Pass and Lummi Flats looking for YB Loon
and Snow Buntings. We dipped on ALL our targets, but
still had a great day of birding in near ideal
conditions. Gorgeous Day!
Deception Pass highlights - 2 American Black
Oysercatchers early in the morning, lots of Red-necked
Loons (hundreds), lots a nice looks at Gulls
(Ring-billed, Mew, Thayers, etc). Common and Pacific
Loons, but NO YB Loon ;(
Went around the corner to Dike road on Whidbey Island,
saw nice variety and masses of ducks : N Pintail, Am
and E Wigeon, Canvasback, G and L Scaup, Ring-Neck,
Gadwall. And a River Otter.

Next we blasted up to Lummi Flats, where the number
and variety of raptors was astounding! We saw a
single tree with 4 Bald Eagles. And we must have seen
25-30 Bald Eagles total. Red-Tails and Rough-leggeds
were everywhere it seemed. Lots of Harriers, and one
Merlin. The Bay was full of ducks, we saw HUGE rafts
of Greater Scaup, Brant, and N Pintail. We saw all 3
Scoter Species, and the largest number of Black Scoter
I've seen in one place (50 in one flock!)
About the ONLY duck we did not see was Northern
Shovelor!
The highlight was right at dusk. As we were leaving,
the fields came alive with Short-eared Owls. The best
estimate I can make would be 25-30 SE Owls in the
flats. Everywhere we looked there were more popping
out of the grass, chasing each other and the N
Harriers! An astounding display, and a great way for
Aaron to pick up a lifer!
A Great day of Birding!
Guy

Guy McWethy
Renton, WA
mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com

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