Hello,
Yesterday I went to celebrate freedom from grad school for spring break by trying to find some new birds to add to my list. We were especially trying to find the snow geese flocks but had no luck with that. I thought if we went to Skagit valley we'd find them, but I realized later that after reading posts about them on tweeters we probably should have stopped at Fir Island? Does anyone have any recent info on where I might still see them? I might go back up north for another attempt to find the snow geese if I have a better idea of where to look for them this coming week - if they're still around.

Aside from that, we stopped at the Samish Flats and braved the extremely strong winds to walk around and look at the ducks and raptors. We saw NORTHERN SHOVELERs, AMERICAN WIGEONS, one EURASIAN WIGEON, a small group of NORTHERN PINTAILs, NORTHERN HARRIERs (two), two JUVENILE BALD EAGLES - they were on the ground, actually, and for awhile seemed to be antagonizing each other by flying up and at each other. It was interesting behavior, not sure what it was about. two ADULT BALD EAGLES as well.

Then we went to Bellingham Bay. My main goal for this trip was to try to see falcons (at Samish flats - no luck) and I really wanted to see a Long-Tailed Duck.
Bellingham Bay offered nice views of BARROW's and COMMON GOLDENEYE - a small flock near the shore. They were easily identifiable without binoculars they were so close. I was delighted because I have never seen Barrow's and Common goldeneyes together (keep in mind, I'm a novice!) and this time I saw both together and could once-and-for-all easily distinguish between them.

Not much bird activity on Bellingham Bay aside from the goldeneyes, so we headed up to Blaine to check out Drayton Harbor, which birdweb.org informed me is a good place to see long-tailed ducks.

Despite the bitter cold and wind, we walked up and down the beach at Drayton Harbor and saw HARLEQUIN DUCKS, SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERs (the latter was a first for me!), both species of SCAUP, more goldeneyes, BRANT, and two male RUDDY DUCKS (non-breeding plumage still). We then walked north of the docked sailboats and in that part of the harbor *finally* saw a single LONG-TAILED DUCK. He was resplendent, though lacking his long tail. I was delighted!

Later, while looking at some birds just beyond the dock, my boyfriend (not a birder, though he kindly humors me!) asked if one of them was another scoter, and sure enough it was - but this one was a BLACK SCOTER! Another lifer for me. I'm so glad he saw it!

All in all, a great day of birding, and the sun came out over Drayton Harbor halfway through our time there, making it much more enjoyable to be there.

-Emily Stoll
Seattle, WA
stollea at u.washington.edu