Carol and Tweets,
This must have been the weekend for inappropriate behavior. My husband
and I were out on a Sunday drive around on the Skagit flats, Fir Island
area. The Snow Geese were right along the Fir Island Road across from the
fruit/vegetable stand ( currently closed for the season). We paused in the
parking area to watch the Geese as several others had done too. One "bright"
fellow walked out into the field towards the Geese just to get them stirred
up. When they began to fly up, he raised his arms to encourage more birds
to fly up. I wish they would have dropped a surprise on him. He had a jolly
good time. I wanted to go speak with him but I probably would not have been
a good PR person for the birding community. Calling people bad names is
not in the best interest and I don't think I could have been very diplomatic.
For those who might be thinking of trying this, remember, these birds need
to rest and eat so they have the energy to make the migration North for
the summer.
Other than that...... (she climbs off her soap box), Lots of Eagles
everywhere on Fir Island and South of Stanwood and large flocks of Shorebirds
visible from the dike but too far to see anything other than Western's and
Dunlin. Also observed 3 Tundra Swan mixed in with the Trumpeters on Dodge
Valley Road.

Happily Birding
in Arlington, WA
Beth Thompson




In a message dated 2/14/2010 11:04:13 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
cariddell at earthlink.net writes:

Yesterday (2-13-10) I spent a long day in the field, hosting a
BirdingPal visitor to Washington. Eurasian Wigeon, Red-throated
Loon, and any of the alcids were among his target birds. We started
the day at Magnuson Park because of the Eurasian Wigeon that had been
in the flock of American Wigeons in the newly-developed wetlands. We
couldn't find it. At 8 a.m. there was an adult male with a very
large remote-controlled airplane on one of the new ponds. This was
clearly an inappropriate use of the wetlands. Is it a prohibited
use? I don't know and don't have the constitutional wherewithal to
deal with the Seattle Parks Department bureaucracy to find out. The
lack of good judgment in this apparent adult was disappointing. On a
positive note, we did get the Eurasian Wigeon that has been wintering
on the Lynnwood Municipal Golf Course for several winters. We
disturbed neither the golfers nor the wigeon flock to see the bird.

We worked our way up to Deception Pass where we were able to watch
about 50 Red-throated Loons. We did not see the numbers that are
usually present in January but they were good enough to please a
visiting birder for whom this was a life bird. We also lucked out
with a Winter Wren at Bowman Bay so when the Winter/Pacific Wren
split occurs, this eastern birder will have both.

Timing worked to walk across to Port Townsend on the 3 p.m. Keystone
sailing where we were able to get good looks at some but not all
alcids desired. We returned about 4:15 so hung around Crockett Lake
for an hour looking carefully at every Northern Harrier, trying in
vain to turn one into a Short-eared Owl. I mention Crockett Lake
because as we reached Keystone there were no waterfowl on the west
end of the lake and limited numbers elsewhere. I attribute it to the
several kite surfers who were out on the lake. I have never seen
this inappropriate activity on a Whidbey Island habitat of local
importance, of which Crockett Lake is one. Again, these were adults
of questionable judgment or blissful ignorance. I'm not sure which.

As birders who have a sense of responsibility to the natural world,
we ponder and consider our own desires and how they might impact the
habitats we enter to see birds and other wildlife. We develop and
follow codes of ethics. It is painful to see in one birding day two
blatant examples of those who don't care or are ignorant about their
activities in regulated areas. I wish there were easy solutions to
stopping these activities and educating the miscreants. I wish there
were a Santa Claus, too.

Good birding,

Carol Riddell
Edmonds
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