This past weekend (Nov. 7-8) Tom Mansfield and I birded Lopez and San Juan Islands and Whidbey Island. Birds of note were Trumpeter Swans and a Merlin chasing a Pine Siskin at Hummel Lake on Lopez Island. 1 Surfbird and a small flock of Black Turnstones near Agate Beach County Park on the southern end of Lopez Island. At Odlin County Park 1 Northern Pygmy-Owl tooted briefly. Our best bird was 1 very late Whimbrel flying towards Shaw Island seen while on the ferry heading from Lopez Island to San Juan Island. A Virginia Rail called along False Bay Rd. and On False Bay a large flock of American Wigeon, but not even 1 Eurasian which seemed odd to us. Also 1 imm. White-crowned Sparrow at American Camp by itself--No other sparrows around there.



On Sunday we began our birding at the northern end of Whidbey Island. At Dugualla Bay and ponds were Canvasbacks and many hunters. Just east of there were Anna's Hummingbird, California Quail. 2 Clark's Grebes and Long-tailed Ducks at Swantown on the salt water. At South Whidbey State Park we found our first of the day Varied Thrush and Red Crossbills which should have been at all the more northern Parks on Whidbey Island, but weren't. Our last bird near Useless Bay was a Peregrine Falcon passing over us.



Ken Knittle
Vancouver WA 98665
mailto:washingtonbirder at hotmail.com
Washington Birder online
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