Subject: [Tweeters] Whatcom & Skagit County
Date: Feb 13 23:34:16 2009
From: Doug Parrott - bird_cage at msn.com


Hi Tweeters,

Made another trip up north to Whatcom and Skagit Counties. It was a beautiful day up there.

First stop was the Blaine fishing Pier. The waterfowl were few in number, but the Eagles were numerous. I was there for about 30 min. and no less than 7 eagle flyovers took place (I think different birds). Of note at the Pier was one female Long-tail Duck.
In Semiahmoo There were also numerous Eagles, primarily juveniles, along with the usual Pintails, Common and Pacific Loons, Red-breasted Mergansers, White-winged and Surf Scoters, Lesser & Greater Scaups, House Finch, Song Sparrows, and the ever present Starlings.

On the way back to Skagit County I did spot an American Kestrel sitting on a power pole.

On Fir Island at the end of Rawlins Road there were at least 50,000 Snow Geese in the field. They were present for about 2 hours despite someone firing a shot gun in the vicinity. It didn't appear they were firing at the birds, at least at my location. The sight of that many birds in one area never ceases to send chills down my spine. It is amazing.
Missing form the tidal areas were the Short-eared Owls. This is the 1st time in several weeks that I have not encountered a few. The Harriers were also low in numbers. I did however spot a Northern Shrike and another American Bittern.

It was a GREAT day!!
Photo's from today are located on my FLICKR site in the Skagit and Whatcom County Set.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdhouse_wa/<http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdhouse_wa/>

Cheers
Doug Parrott
Edmonds Wa.
bird_cage at msn.com<mailto:bird_cage at msn.com>