Hi Tweets

I was back up at the Skagit and Samish today with a client. The NORTHERN SHRIKE was still present on Mann Rd, a beautiful SNOWY OWL was present at the Hayton Preserve on the green building across the channel, lots of BALD EAGLES were around both on Fir Island and up on the Samish. Along the northern portion of Fir Island Rd we had 10,000 SNOW GEESE within 30 feet of the road - what a clamor. Along the way up to the Samish we had an AMERICAN KESTREL on Persons Rd.

No rain today and conditions very different at the West 90. We had 12-15 NORTHERN HARRIERS all over the place. At one point we had a confrontation between a harrier and a SHORT-EARED OWL. Perched on a fence pole was a gorgeous Black Morph NORTHERN ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - this bird was extremely dark (almost black) all over with white on the tail. When it flew it had the classic black and white pattern on the wings.

Fewer TRUMPETER SWANS in smaller groups were scattered around both Fir Island and the Samish. Notable was the almost complete lack of ducks, with the exception of a raft of birds along the west side of Samish Island - about 300 yards wide and 1/2 mile long composed of almost exclusively MALLARDS.

Good birding

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville Wa
bellasoc at isomedia.com