Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit Swainson's Hawk, etc
Date: May 2 21:13:56 2009
From: Gary Bletsch - garybletsch at yahoo.com



Dear Tweeters,

Bob Kuntz led a field trip to the Fir Island Game Range today. At about midday, the trip participants were amazed to see a Swainson's Hawk fly over, slowly making its way northwards. We were near the GH Owl nest. A half-hour or so later, s we were gabbing in the Headquarters parking lot, another Swainson's Hawk flew over! This bird differed from the first bird in several plumage details. With it was a third bird that was probably an immature Swainson's Hawk! We were gobsmacked!


I cannot remember who reported a possible SWHA yesterday along I5 near the Skagit-Snohomish border, but I am thinking that that bird should get bumped from possible to "sure thing."

By the way, the Game Range is now mostly closed, with colored tape cordoning off the trails, and heavy equipment poised for the coming onslought against the dikes. Some trees near the boat launch are already down, and the fetid old restrooms there have been yanked out of their blackberry-fortified location.

It was a bitter sweet trip for many of us, because we don't know if we'll ever again enjoy another May birding extravaganza there. The only reason we were allowed in was because Bob had made arrangements with the assistant manager of the refuge.

I did a lot of birding after the trip, but realized too late that I was on my way to a possible century day; I think I ended up with 94 species, with no Winter Wren, no kingfisher, no Common Merganser, no flycathers or vireos, and also missing both Turkey Vulture and Black-throated Grey Warbler that other observers on the field trip did see.

Here are some other highlights from the day, including both during and after Bob's field trip.

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 20 on Samish Flats.

BRANT: 2 hanging on at March Point, a few more at Rosario Head.

OSPREY, a pair copulating on a nest in Anacortes, visible from the first parking area on the right, at the ferry terminal just east of Washington Park. I had not known about this nest. I did not look at it too carefully, but I seem to recall that it was on top of a very tall conifer, and not on a man-made platform!

VIRGINIA RAIL, one seen briefly at the Skagit Regional Airport ponds, thanks to Kraig and Kathy Kemper for the tip.

SORA, one seen well at the Game Range, only my second SORA record here, although at the time I thought it was my first. Also one heard at SR 20 milepost 76 ponds, another at the Burmaster Road ponds off Minkler Road, and one seen at Skagit Regional Airport ponds.

Shorebirds: Black-bellied Plover in breeding plumage at two places on Fir Island; Killdeer here and there; Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs in several places; ONE SOLITARY SANDPIPER at SR 20 milepost 76 ponds (at dusk). Breeding plumage Dunlin at several places on Fir Island. Least and Western Sandpipers at several places here and there. One breeding-plumage Long-billed Dowitcher at the Game Range. I could not relocate the Whimbrel of yesterday, and had no luck with this species at several of the other dirt fields to which they sometimes resort.

Gulls--a good day for May. Besides Glaucous-winged, there were two Ring-billeds and a California at the Game Range, and a couple of Mew at the ferry landing.

Marbled Murrelet--several nice brown ones at Green Point, with some Rhinos and Pigeon Guillemots, but no Murres in sight.

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD: a male calling at the Anacortes Ferry Landing.

Yellow Warblers singing at the Game Range.

Two Black-headed Grosbeaks in Bay View.

What a fun day it was to go birding!

Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch ? Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA ? garybletsch at yahoo.com ? ?