The sun teased me out yesterday and then went away. Oh well, even that
little bit was nicer than what we have been seeing! On my way through
the Snohomish Valley on Hwy 9 I saw hundreds of Trumpeter Swans in the
fields, as well as a few Tundras. They were very close to the road.
Also saw a Kestrel just off the road - this was the first time seeing a
Kestrel in that area! Red Tail Hawks were everywhere. I saw one at
least every 1/2 to 1 mile all the way up Hwy 9, over Hwy 2, and up I-5
to the Conway exit! WOW!

I went to Fir Island first and saw 3 Snowy Owls - one was at Hayton
Preserve, one was halfway between the preserve and Jensen's Access, and
one was at Jensen's Access. From Jensen's you could actually see all 3
birds. They were all kind of far away but could be viewed VERY nicely
with spotting scopes. I saw at least 50 eagles between Fir Island and
Hwy 20 so the floods have definitely pushed them off the rivers! The
snow goose flock was being harrassed by no less than 5 eagles and eagles
were scattered all over the place, many of them with fresh goose kills.
I saw 3 dead geese in the fields that weren't meals, two at the Preserve
and one on Maupin road where it turns to the north. I thought this was
very odd. Lots of harriers and hawks around. The only things spotted
at the North Fork Access were harriers. I wasn't in a mindset to be
looking for little birds, only the large ones were on my mind! :)

Decided to head over to Whidbey to see if I could locate the Snowy Owls
there. The eagle and hawk fest continued with an eagle or hawk sighting
at least every 1/2 mile or so all the way to the Keystone Spit! Arrived
at the Spit and it was quiet, very quiet. The usual suspects of Surf
Scoters, Ring Billeds, Buffleheads, and Common Mergansers were about. I
looked for Harlequins but didn't find any. 5 Red Throated Loons were on
the bay as well as Barrow's Goldeneye and my first Red Phalarope
sightings, although I only saw 4 birds and not the dozens others are
reporting around the area. I was able to photograph a juvenile Northern
Shrike at fairly close distance! A short eared owl made an appearance
as it was getting dark but no Snowys were found. I walked almost the
entire jetty so I am confident those birds were not on the spit. I
wonder where they go?

Sorry for the length!

Cathy Wise
Snohomish, WA
cathy.wise at cingular.com