Subject: [Tweeters] Successful WA visit- Thanks!
Date: Jan 12 22:52:33 2006
From: Kallaire at cs.com - Kallaire at cs.com


Dear Tweeters-types;
Please forgive the tardy post, but I've had sproadic e-mail service
the last few days, and have just arrived home in New York. I had a very
successful trip to your lovely state this week, despite the rainiest weather I've
experienced in ten trips to Seattle in the last 4 years! My one day of dedicated
birding was this past Monday (1/9), and I took the best advice offered and
headed north to Skagit and Samish. The heavy rain in Seattle in the morning did
not bode well, but I was fortunate to enjoy a brief respite (from the rain,
if not the wind) when I reached Fir Island at 8:30 a.m., in time for "sunrise".
I spotted two Snowy Owls east of Jensen Access, although the wind was so
strong that I found the views unsatisfying- I returned in the early afternoon for
a better look at one of the owls. This sighting alone made my trip- Snowy Owl
has long been my nemesis bird, and I was thrilled beyond words to finally
observe it! My heartfelt thanks to the gracious birders who offered such
incredibly helpful advice!
On my second stop at Fir Island, I also enjoyed a Northern Shrike near
Hayton Preserve. I drove the roads in Samish in very heavy rain, and besides
abundant Bald Eagles (nothing to scoff at for this easterner!), the best bird
was a stunning dark-phase Rough-legged Hawk perched roadside on
Farm-to-Market Road. Only Trumpeter and Tundra ("Whistling") Swans were spotted- no
"Bewick's" (I trust this refers to Whooper Swans- I'm curious as to the provenance
of individuals of this species that have been reported in recent weeks).
The inclement weather made a ferry ride impractical, but I decided to
work some favorite spots on Whidbey Island. I was fortunate in that the
heaviest rain fell as I was driving, but it was still one of those messy days that
makes my non-birding friends question my sanity. I whiffed on Rock Sandpiper,
but 2 stops at Rosario Head rewarded me with a reasonably close look at 2
Ancient Murrelets (along with a pair of Marbled). None of my other sightings
were particularly noteworthy for the region, although a number of the birds were
among only a few sightings of the species for me, so I was delighted.
I tried Alki Beach for a while on Tuesday in hopes of scaring up a
Rock Sandpiper, but found only Surfbirds and Black Turnstones around Duwamish
Head- no complaints, as I collected some great video of these almost-tame birds.
Rock Sandpiper will have to join my U.S. list at another time.
Thank you all again for the kind advice, and the always-excellent
reporting by your dedicated birding community. I hope I get to return the
hospitality some time to WA birders visiting my home territory. Take care, all, and
continued happy birding!
Regards,
Ken Allaire
New York, NY
kallaire at cs.com
www.kenallaire.com