Subject: [Tweeters] Birding Whidbey Island
Date: Dec 28 17:17:56 2007
From: Judy Taylor - gaviapacifica at verizon.net


In response to the earlier email about favorite spots
on Whidbey Island, here are a couple of the highlights
of my brief birding time on the island today:

Deception Pass State Park (no day-visit fee :-) the
big lake (name of lake eludes me at the moment) at the
West Beach area is usually good for Hooded Mergansers.
I saw 5 today, male and female. Another treat was
two Bald Eagles in a fir tree right where I pulled off
to observe the lake (the wide pull-off that is closest
to the entrance to the West Beach parking lot. One
eagle took off with something small(fish maybe) in its
beak, leaving the second still perched on the branch,
not seeming the least disturbed by my presence below.


Penn Cove - at the permit-required pull-off along Rt.
20 there were about 50-60 Surf Scooters very near
shore. I pulled in slowly and watched them for about
5 minutes, then they "scooted" out of there in a hurry
for some reason - no eagle noticed, by me at any rate.
A small contingent returned several minutes later, but
most stayed further out in the cove. Goldeneyes and
Buffleheads also present.

Crockett Lake - highlight was a juvenile Rough-legged
Hawk.


Best,
Judy


Judy Rowe Taylor
Warm Beach, WA
gaviapacifica at verizon.net
"Love a Loony Day!"