Tweeters,

I spent most of yesterday doing some low-powered birding (interspersed with
flower photography at Deception Pass) and saw a few things of interest.

Near Ferndale in Whatcom Co., there was a male MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD along
Douglas Road, 0.3 miles west of Elder Road (just S of Lake Terrell). Other
birders reported a pair of bluebirds here from March 21 through 24. The male
was also seen on the Christmas Bird Count, so it may have been present all
winter.

A flock of about 30 TUNDRA SWANS were about 400 yards NW of the Silver Reef
Casino on Slater Road-- also near Ferndale. Sixteen TRUMPETER SWANS were on
the beach at Dugualla Bay on Whidbey Island, and about 40 swans of
undetermined species were along I-5 just N of Burlington (hard to determine
species at 65 mph). All of them will be headed to points northward very
soon.

Three TURKEY VULTURES were circling in a mini-kettle along Anaco Beach Road
S of Anacortes. At West Beach in Deception Pass State Park, there were few
birds on the water, but these included 2 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS and many PIGEON
GUILLEMOTS.

At Dugualla Lagoon ON Whidbey I., 3 CACKLING GEESE were feeding in a nearby
field with Canada Geese. There were at least 50 CANVASBACKS in the lagoon,
which is noted as a good spot for this species.

I am still waiting for my first Rufous Hummingbirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers
and Savannah Sparrows of the year, but hopefully soon...


Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net