Hi Tweeters -
This weekend a group of 10 of us, co-led by MaryFrances Mathis &
myself, headed up to the San Juan Islands for a bit of spring
birding. Although one big target was to hopefully hit on shorebird
migration and that hadn't [yet?] materialized, we still managed to
have two great days of birding with a lot of fun first-of-year birds
showing up:

Saturday April 24:
We started on the early ferry to San Juan Island, spending the day
zooming all over San Juan Island.

On the ferry, once into San Juan Co. waters, we saw BONAPARTES GULLS,
several breeding-attired RHINO AUKLETS, BRANDTS & PELAGIC CORMORANTS,
and a single THAYERS GULL & COMMON MURRE.

Our first stop on the island was Three Meadows [permission requested
in advance to bird] -- over the water we had five swallow species
[VG, Tree, N.Rough-winged & Cliff]. Walking up the road in the
forested area, we picked up our first-of-year[FOY] YELLOW WARBLER,
followed shortly by PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER & then HAMMOND'S
FLYCATCHER. Added Common Yellowthroat, Orange-crowned Warbler,
Yellow-rumped Warbler & one Townsend's Warbler to start the day with
5 warblers. We also had Bushtit & Hairy Woodpecker at this stop.
Before leaving the marshy area, we also saw our only WILSON'S SNIPE
of the trip.

At Sportsman Lake, as well as adding several more duck species, we
picked up our FOY HOUSE WREN. Moving down Egg Lake Rd., we were
stopped by a calling HUTTON'S VIREO & caught a glimpse of VARIED
THRUSH.

A stop down VALLEY FARMS road to scope the muddy fields turned up
WESTERN & LEAST SANDIPERS, and in the hedgerows several CHIPPING
SPARROWS.

We stopped a False Bay at high tide, and saw several [~10] GREATER
YELLOWLEGS, a flock of DUNLIN as well as distant BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS
& HARLEQUIN DUCKS [got much better looks at both of these species
later].

At Panorama Marsh, we got responses to the ipod from both VIRGINIA RAIL & SORA.

Next, we stopped hiked from the American Camp Visitors Center to the
Redoubt. A pair of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flew over, and we heard but
couldn't track down our only VESPERS SPARROW of the trip. While
watching one of several foxes, we had an AMERICAN KESTREL hovering
over the meadow. Down at South Beach, we watched a couple pairs of
LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and then noticed a nearby BLACK SCOTER. At Cattle
Point, a couple folks saw a RED-THROATED LOON in amongst the many
PACIFIC LOONS present here. In addition, enjoyed better looks at
Oystercatchers & Harlequins here.

At 4th of July Beach, we saw our first TURKEY VULTURES of the day
[they became common from then out], and had our only WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS of the trip.

Next, we headed to the westside of the island. A stop along Wold Rd.
at the lake across from the Lavender Farm, produced both LESSER &
GREATER SCAUP. And up in the trees, we heard our first CASSIN'S VIREO
of the year. Nearby, Guy got a look at our only BLACK-THROATED GRAY
WARBLER of the trip too. At Westside Lake, along Westside Hwy, we
picked up WARBLING VIREO & WINTER WREN. Near the Alpaca Farm on West
Valley Hwy, a CACKLING GOOSE was hanging out in a flock of Canada
Geese. And a group of CALIFORNIA QUAIL caught our attention. John
picked up our trip MOURNING DOVE around here too. Our last stop
Saturday was a English Camp, where we watched the OSPREY nest w/
attendant Osprey. A PILEATED WOODPECKER came in to our ipod. We got
great looks at another Townsend's WArbler and had a COOPER's HAWK
cruise overhead.

Sunday April 25:
Before catching a ferry to Lopez Island for the day, we started with
a run down to the corner of Douglas & Little Road, where someone
tipped us off to nesting WESTERN BLUEBIRDS..

On the ferry ride, we picked up our only STELLER'S JAY of the trip
while docked at Orcas Island. While docked at Shaw island, we topped
that sighting by noticing an active hummingbird feeder that had
several RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and one ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD buzzing around.

On Lopez Island, we started at Odlin Park, where we found our first
WILSON'S WARBLER of the trip. Along Port Stanley Rd., we stopped at
a flooded field and had AMERICAN PIPITS as well as several peeps, too
distant to id. Down at the shoreline along Swifts Bay, we found a
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER along with a few more peeps. A couple Greater
Yellowlegs were in the pond just off the bay and a Northern Harrier
flew overhead. At Hummel Lake, we dipped on Black-capped Chickadee,
but did pick up another heard-only VIRGINIA RAIL, and saw Common
Yellowthroat & Marsh Wrens.

At Fisherman's Bay, we saw our only COMMON MERGANSERS of the trip, a
couple of WILD TURKEYS, and an OSPREY, first hovering , then perched
on pilings. A couple CASPIAN TERNS were new for the trip. A few peeps
were around, WESTERN & LEAST SANDPIPERS as well as a flock of DUNLIN.
At a new flooded field south along Fisherman's Bay Rd., we had 3
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in amongst a flock of Canadas. A SORA
called out from the reed canary grass. Down at the church along
Davis Bay Rd., we took some time to look out over the marsh & picked
up our trip AMERICAN COOT & CINNAMON TEAL. A little ways down the
road, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flew over head high. On Cousins Rd., we
eventually found a GOLDEN EAGLE perched near where they apparently
nest.

We hiked in to Iceberg Point, and waay off in the distance picked up
our only BRANT of the trip.

Overall, the trip species totals reflected the fun we had birding:
127 species for San Juan Co over the 2 days, 109 species on Saturday
and 105 species on Sunday. I think everyone in the group personally
had over 110 species, probably more like 115 or more. Wow!

Can't wait to get back up there.

It was a good weekend,

Matt Bartels & MaryFrances Mathis
Seattle & Kirkland, WA