I birded Skagit County today. My goal for the visit was to refind 2 dowitchers and to photograph them. I believe that 2 Short-billed Dowitchers may be wintering (so far) on the Samish Flats with Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin. I'd like to have photos to prove that. The flats were snow covered today, so the shorebird flock had no muddy field in which to feed. I found the flock in Alice Bay, but could not get close enough for dowie ID, much less photos. Another time.

I spotted a feeding dark MERLIN, just south of the Farmhouse on La Conner Rd. Just beyond the Merlin, was an AMERICAN KESTREL, one of 4 I saw today. Didn't see the Prairie Falcon today. At Skagit Wildlife, I was fortunate to get good looks, and photos, of one of the NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES. Scanned several blackbird flocks, but no Rusty Blackbird today.

The beach at Jensen Access on Fir Island was loaded with DUNLIN and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. A young PEREGRINE FALCON flew in and perched.

Photos of the Merlin, Kestrel and waterthrush may be found at http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/new_images_of_washington_birds

It was a good day.


Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net