Subject: [Tweeters] Fir Island Birding
Date: Jan 29 18:25:21 2007
From: Carol Riddell - cariddell at earthlink.net


Hi Tweets,

The Glaucland Gull (as I am now calling it, to fall right between the
opinions of better birders than I, that it is either a Glaucous or an
Iceland [Cedar River mouth - Sunday late afternoon]) gave me a
headache so I looked for an easier time today and went on a sparrow
quest at the Skagit Wildlife Management Area boat launch and dike
trail. It was a quiet day with light overcast skies. At 1:15 p.m. I
was able to observe the flock of 20+ COMMON REDPOLLS feeding on the
alder catkins near the boat launch. I then walked the dike trail
clockwise from the boat launch. I went into the field at the first
foot bridge and noted a large (100+) mixed flock. The flock was very
nervous, moving back and forth between the grass and the blackberry
brambles. I watched it for three-quarters of an hour to assess its
composition. In descending order of abundance there were OREGON
JUNCO (no Slate-coloreds observed), GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, SONG
SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, two LINCOLN'S SPARROW, two WHITE-
THROATED SPARROW (one tan striped and one white-striped), and one
SPOTTED TOWHEE. No sign of a Swamp Sparrow.

Other birds observed:

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Black-capped Chickadee
Brown Creeper (2)
Northern Flicker (2)
Downy Woodpecker (1 female)
Robin
Varied Thrush (1 male)
Bald Eagle (5 adults)
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier (2-3)

Good birding,
Carol Riddell
Edmonds