Subject: [Tweeters] 31 species of Anseriformes!
Date: Mar 4 20:21:11 2007
From: Gary Bletsch - garybletsch at yahoo.com


Dear Tweeters,

Jim McCoy and I figured we would try for the Whooper
Swan up near Ferndale today. When Ryan Merrill bumped
into us and told us about the nearby Mute Swan and the
Redheads at Lake Terrell, we figured we would go for
them, too. Jim and I ended up seeing 31 species of
Anseriformes, by far the most either of us had ever
seen in one day. About the only likely waterfowl
species we missed were Wood Duck, Cinnamon Teal, and
Blue-winged Teal--all of which would be a bit early
right now--and the King Eider, which may have left the
Semiahmoo area by now.

Here are the 31 species of waterfowl we encountered:

Whooper Swan, one near Ulrich and Ferndale Roads;
Mute Swan, one to the west of above location;
Trumpeter Swan, flocks in Whatcom and Skagit;
Tundra Swan, just 2 near the Whooper;
Canada Goose, many here and there in Whatcom;
Brant, lots at Birch Bay and Semiahmoo;
Snow Goose, 1 with Canada Geese near Whooper spot;
Mallard, ubiquitous;
Northern Pintail, nearly ubiquitous;
Gadwall, just four at March's Point;
Eurasian Wigeon, ones and twos, Whatcom & Skagit;
American Wigeon, nearly ubiquitous;
Green-winged Teal, small flocks here and there;
Northern Shoveler, three or four off Ferndale Rd;
Greater Scaup, 100's at Semiahmoo, Birch Bay, March's;
Lesser Scaup; 100 or so at Lk Terrell;
Ring-necked Duck, small #'s here and there;
Canvasback, scores on Lk Terrell;
Redhead, about 4 at Lk Terrell;
Bufflehead, nearly ubiquitous;
Barrow's Goldeneye, 5 + at Semiahmoo;
Common Goldeneye; March's Pt, Semiahmoo, Birch Bay;
Oldsquaw, many at Semiahmoo, Birch Bay;
Harlequin, several each at Birch Bay, Semiahmoo;
Black Scoter, 1 at Birch Bay, a pair at Semiahmoo;
White-winged Scoter, 100's at Birch Bay, Semiahmoo;
Surf Scoter, dozens at Semiahmoo, Birch Bay;
Ruddy Duck, a few at Lk Terrell, Semiahmoo;
Hooded Merganser, pair by Swinomish Bingo Hall;
Common Merganser, many at Lk Terrell;
Red-breasted Merganser, few at Birch Bay, March's Pt,
Semiahmoo.

Other fun birds included about 250 Pacific Loons and
two Eared Grebes at Semiahmoo, a singing Winter Wren
at Lake Terrell, and a Merlin chasing some Dunlin at
March's Point.

On Saturday there were two odd hybrid geese near Big
Lake (Skagit County). My best guess is Canada X
White-fronted Goose. They looked like Canadas, but had
the following odd characteristics: triangular
pinkish-orange bills with narrow band of white at
base; dull pinkish legs; diffuse neck-head stockings
of dark brown rather than black; more brown tone to
breast; white of belly extending farther forward than
on Canadas; large, dirty-white face patches larger
than on nearby Canadas. These birds were foraging with
Canada Geese, Trumpeter Swans, and dabbling ducks. The
spot is north of the road leading from Mt Vernon and
Big Rock to Big Lake, just west of a private road that
leads to a farm, and west of the road leading to the
fire hall and school.


Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

near Lyman (Skagit County), Washington

garybletsch at yahoo.com




____________________________________________________________________________________
Want to start your own business?
Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business.
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-index