Hi Tweets

A somewhat belated report of a trip that Seattle Audubon took to Whidbey Island on Wednesday the 18th. We started out in rain showers, but by the time we got to the turnoff on SR20 to the north end of the island it had stopped. We had a nice flock of SNOW GEESE on Fir Island at the Snow Goose produce stand. Some of the tulip fields were in spectacular bloom as we went thru the Skagit.

Our first stop was at Pass Lake where we had an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER singing as we stepped out of the car. A DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was perched along the edge of the lake, a few BUFFLEHEAD were down the lake, and a BALD EAGLE was way down acting like it had a large fish (too big to lift off with). Next we went down to Rosario Beach into a flurry of bird activity. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, SPOTTED TOWHEES, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and PINE SISKINS were all singing in the trees above us. A CALIFORNIA QUAIL called on the other side of the parking lot. We walked down to the narrow neck and scanned both sides. The large rock on the south side had more DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS along with PELAGIC CORMORANTS. The smaller rock had BRANDT'S CORMORANTS. Both the double-crested and Brandt's had nuptial plumes. A GREAT BLUE HERON was along the side of the bay. On the north side two CANADA GEESE held an extended discussion, while two BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS flew in and perched on the same rock. A couple of HARLEQUIN DUCKS worked over the area, and a few COMMON GOLDENEYE were about. Lots of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were further out, along with COMMON LOON, RED-NECKED GREBE. Several crows were making a fuss - turned out to be chasing a COMMON RAVEN. A RED-TAILED HAWK flew over, a HAIRY WOODPECKER was in the trees at the top of the bluff.

We made a stop at Dugualla Bay and had more Canadas, as well as MALLARD, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, CANVASBACK (the males were really pretty), RING-NECKED DUCK, GREATER SCAUP, a single LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD and HOODED MERGANSER. The Oak Harbor Marina was pretty slow at low tide, but we had great looks at breeding plumage HORNED GREBES and there were many BUFFLEHEAD, and SURF SCOTERS. Out at Swantown and Bos Lake we had many of the already seen ducks, but the Strait side added more SURF SCOTERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, COMMON LOON, PACIFIC LOON, and LONG-TAILED DUCK. Lots of WESTERN GREBES were present waaaay out, too far to see if any CLARK'S were with them. A couple of RHINOCEROS AUKLETS were around. At the Hastie Lake Rd access point were were rewarded with four BLACK OYSTERCATHERS almost at our feet, working the exposed rocks and seaweed over. A BALD EAGLE flew over and the Oytercatchers took off, as did five others. All nine of them flew north, circled back and eventually landed on the rocks further south. Great looks both on the surface and flying, and much vocalising.

We made a quick lunch stop at Libby Beach and had more HARLEQUIN DUCKS, a distant RED-THROATED LOON, two more BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS flew by, a couple of MARBLED MURRELETS were offshore, an immature BALD EAGLE flew over, the WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were incessantly singing, and a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE perched in a snag just south of us on the bluff.

Penn Cove was almost devoid of birds with no rocky shorebirds and very few others. We made a stop on Rhodena Drive, but the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD did NOT make an appearance. Crockett Lake had lots of GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, MALLARDS, the SAVANNAH SPARROWS were making us of every tall grass stalk to sing from, a NORTHERN HARRIER flew over, a couple of GREATER YELLOWLEGS and four LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were on the edge. At the old platform, the usual complement of Cormorants were present, and more PIGEON GUILLEMOTS. Up at Fort Casey the waters offshore were slow, but we had nice looks at colorful YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER repeatedly sang but stayed concealed. A COOPER'S HAWK gained altitude.

At Double Bluff access, there were some distant SURF SCOTERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BUFFLEHEAD, MEW, CALIFORNIA and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. At Deer Lagoon there were lots of ducks, but nothing not seen already. A couple of OSPREY flew by.

The wetlands along Ewing Road are in full swing now with lots of waterfowl. We had MALLARD, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, CANADA GOOSE, BUFFLEHEAD, GADWALL, and CINNAMON TEAL. Swallows were abundant, with huge numbers of TREE SWALLOW, a few BARN SWALLOWS and lots of CLIFF SWALLOWS. A VIRGINIA RAIL called from the marsh, and RED-TAILED HAWKS circled overhead.

As we waited for the ferry at Clinton we had a nice group of BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and an unusual SPOTTED SANDPIPER perched on a float.

It was a very nice day, clearing so we had sunny weather most of the day with no wind. Lots of excellent views of the birds. We wpund up seeing 91 species for the day. Complete list below.

Brian H. Bell
Birding & Natural History Guide
Woodinville Wa
bellasoc at isomedia dot com

Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Virginia Rail
American Coot
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Long-billed Dowitcher
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Rhinoceros Auklet
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
N. Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Bewicks's Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Townsend's Solitaire
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's & Myrtle)
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow