The fine birding continued on the Samish Flats today. The HARLAN'S HAWK was still at the intersection of Sullivan and Bayview Edison Roads. A MERLIN flew over the Samish River early in the AM. EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES and a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE in Edison. North of the West 90, flocks of DUNLIN and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS came and went. PEREGRINE FALCONS put on a show hunting them. Within those flocks were a SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, a WESTERN SANDPIPER and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. The Short-billed Dowitcher is a very bright juvenile.

Back at the intersection of Sullivan and Bayview Edison Roads, I hunkered down to study the massive mixed flock of blackbirds. At least 3 Brewer's were partially albinistic or leucistic. The left wing of one female was pure white on the outside. The other wing appeared normal. In additon to the BREWER'S, RED-WINGED and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS was a single YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD as well as an adult male RUSTY BLACKBIRD. WESTERN MEADOWLARKS made for a 6 icterid day.

Some (very poor) images of some of the aforementioned birds may be viewed at http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/new_images_of_washington_birds


Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net