Subject: [Tweeters] Eastside Audubon Samish Flats 1Dec2010 (long)
Date: Dec 2 06:36:39 2010
From: Pete Fahey - peterfahey at comcast.net


Hi Brian:



You failed to mention if that was the first state (or ABA) record of
Rough-winged Hawk out by East 90.



Pete Fahey

Issaquah, WA





From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of B&PBell
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 7:32 PM
To: Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Eastside Audubon Samish Flats 1Dec2010 (long)



Hi Tweets



Eastside Audubon took a trip today to the Samish and Skagit Flats. We
started out running thru alternate foggy and clear weather depending on if
we were in one of the river valleys. By the time we got up to Skagit Co. it
was cloudy but clear. Coming down toward the LaConner turnoff we had a nice
group of Swans close to the road. We pulled off and scanned them - all
TRUMPETER, but good views. On a telephone? wire there was a female AMERICAN
KESTREL, and a bit further down the road a RED-TAILED HAWK. In the fields
there were some MALLARDs and tons of EUROPEAN STARLINGs, RED-WINGED
BLACKBIRDs and BREWER'S BLACKBIRDs. A short drive down the frontage road
there was another good group of swans- this one was mostly TRUMPETER but
there was one TUNDRA in the group.



As we drove up Chuckanut Drive there were a good number of groups of swans,
but most were too far away for good looks. We started to pick up more
RED-TAILED HAWKs, and an occasional BALD EAGLE. A field contained
GLAUCOUS-WINGED and RING-BILLED GULLs. We ducked over Bow Hill and down to
Pomona Grange County Park. The creek is running very high, so no Dipper
today, but we did see and hear GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETs,
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEEs and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER.



Back down over Bow Hill and we had some EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVEs, more
starlings, still more Red-tails. On Chuckanut Drive north of Bow there were
a couple of flooded fields with MALLARDs, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN
PINTAIL, GREEN-WING TEAL, and AMERICAN WIGEON. We turned into the Blanchard
area and had a COMMON GOLDENEYE and BUFFLEHEAD on the lagoon on Legg Rd. On
Blanchard Road we had 9 more EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVEs, and in a yard with
feeders HOUSE SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED, WHITE-CROWNED, SONG, and FOX
SPARROWs, SPOTTED TOWHEE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and HOUSE FINCH. In a tree in the
same yard there was a single EVENING GROSBEAK. COMMON RAVENs were in the
area.



We stopped at the Farm to Market Bakery (lots of yummy goodies), and in the
waterway behind it were approximately 150 GREEN-WINGED TEAL. As we moved
along outside of Edison there were at least 7 BALD EAGLEs in the Cottonwood
trees behind the modern house, with RED-TAILED HAWKs perched in trees along
the way. As we turned toward the East 90 there were a couple of NORTHERN
HARRIERs in the field, another RED-TAILED HAWK on a pole and a gorgeous
ROUGH-WINGED HAWK on another pole (with its wings spread). As we drove west
toward the West 90 there were still more RED-TAILED HAWKs, and in a field
north of the road a PEREGRINE FALCON (immature) - that explained the DUNLIN
that were wheeling all over the place. At the 90 there were at least 10
NORTHERN HARRIERs, including an beautiful immature bird, soaring over the
fields. RED-TAILED HAWKs ringed the fields, a couple of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKs
were present and a single COOPER'S HAWK. Some SONG SPARROWS hid in the long
grass and a MARSH WREN perched briefly. There were lots of GREAT BLUE HERONs
in most of the fields.



At the old Wharf Road access point on Samish Island we scanned the bay and
picked up BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON and BARROW'S GOLDENEYEs, RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER, HORNED, RED-NECKED and WESTERN GREBE, COMMON LOON, DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANT, SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, and waaaay in the distance BRANT.



We stopped again at the West 90 and looked at several RED-TAILED HAWKs, a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and a nice collection of DUNLIN and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERs
in the muddy field. A male NORTHERN HARRIER was on the ground, a couple of
females flew over. We drove around the flats some and saw lots more
RED-TAILED HAWKS ( I think we were up to about 40 by now).



As we moved south we stopped by Bayview SP and scanned Padilla Bay. There
was a raft of GREATER and a few LESSER SCAUP fairly close, some BUFFLEHEAD,
about 30 COMMON LOONS, a HORNED GREBE, and spread out in the distance
hundreds of what were likely scaup.



We stopped by the feeders on Valentine Road and picked up DOWNY and HAIRY
WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEES, HOUSE FINCH, DARK-EYED JUNCOs, SPOTTED TOWHEE, PINE SISKIN, SONG
and FOX SPARROW, HERMIT THRUSH, VARIED THRUSH and 7 CALIFORNIA QUAIL.



Down on Fir Island we saw more NORTHERN HARRIERs, and two groups of SNOW
GEESE, one of about 2000 birds and one of about 5000 birds.



Along the way we also saw RING-NECKED PHEASANT, MEW, RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA
GULLs, ROCK PIGEON, MOURNING DOVE, NORTHERN FLICKER, STELLER'S JAY, and
AMERICAN CROW.



It was a great day in nice territory. We finished with 70 species.



Good Birding,



Brian H. Bell

Woodinville WA

mail to bell asoc at iso media dot com