Subject: [Tweeters] Soggy Field Trip and Yellow-headed Blackbirds
Date: Oct 18 10:56:40 2009
From: MEYER2J at aol.com - MEYER2J at aol.com


Hi Tweets:

On Saturday, October 17th, Mike and I tried to lead a field trip to Camano
Island for Eastside Audubon. We didn't bird much of Camano due to the
rain. Here's what we did find for the day including two Yellow-headed
Blackbirds.


It was a dark and stormy day when 7 Eastside Audubon birders drove north
through blinding rain in the hope of birding Camano Island. At a ?bird from
the car? stop at the ponds near the west end of the Island County bridge,
there were a few Long-billed Dowitchers, a Greater Yellowlegs and mallards.
The tide was out and the rain was in at Livingston Bay where flotillas
of gulls were seen. On the way to English Boom, a Bald Eagle elegantly
braved the rain and a few Mourning Doves hung out in the trees. Two large
groups of wet American Pipits landed and foraged in the open field on
Utsalady Rd, just before Moore Rd. Western, Horned and Red-necked Grebes could
be seen with scopes from the shelter at English Boom along with Northern
Pintail, Belted Kingfisher, several Great Blue Herons and another eagle. Song
Sparrows, juncos and Golden-crowned Kinglets flitted in the shrubs.
The drenching rain sent the birders back to the local QFC but shortly
thereafter the rain let up allowing for a welcome stop at the back side of the
Stanwood Sewage Ponds. Ducks seen included Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck,
Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser and Greater Scaup, American Wigeon,
Gadwall, a single Surf Scoter and a couple of Canvasback. Also, a distant,
soggy Cooper?s Hawk was observed hanging its tail and wings out to dry.
Later, a flying Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen being terrorized by a crow.
While looking through a flock of blackbirds on Thomle Rd. a ?female?
Yellow-headed Blackbird was spotted, giving everyone good, close looks.
White-crowned and singing Golden-crowned Sparrows darted among the bushes as the
drizzle continued. There were thousands of Snow Geese on the west side of
Boe Rd., alertly avoiding the hunters on the other side of the road. The
Snow Geese were a welcome sign of fall and winter birding to come.
Immediately upon crossing from Boe to Norman Rd, an interesting bird could
be seen perched high in a bare tree. Scope views clearly showed an adult
Peregrine Falcon, a Lifer bird for some birders in the group. Further
along, another Yellow-headed Blackbird was found among the many blackbirds and
starlings that gather in the fields. Additionally, a flock of about 40
Mourning Doves were perched on a utility line near one of the farm houses. In
spite of not fully birding Camano Island, 54 bird species were seen while
braving the ?Texas Downpour.?
Joyce Meyer
_meyer2j at aol.com_ (mailto:meyer2j at aol.com)