Subject: [Tweeters] Sequim area today, thoughts Renton Burrowing Owl
Date: Mar 20 21:23:55 2010
From: Scott Atkinson - scottratkinson at hotmail.com



Tweeters:



Today along the Graysmarsh public beach access I had three MT. BLUEBIRDS (two male, one female) in the dunes. This is about a week ahead of schedule. They have proven annual here late March-early April. Also present was a N. (Yel-sh) FLICKER. Both SAVANNAH and PUGET SOUND WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were singing on territories here and nearby, my first singers this spring.



I did not see any EUR. COLLARED-DOVES at Three Crabs, but two were along Wilcox Lane bordering Graysmarsh. This seems to be about the eastern boundary for the new Sequim colony.



The best find of the day however was two TUNDRA SWANS (on ad, one juv) with 79 Trumpeters at the n. end of nearby Schmuck Rd. 'Ol Bob reports they've had up to seven here this winter. We missed 'em on the CBC, and the species is rare for CLALLAM. Also here were eight GR. WHITE-FRONTED and two CACKLING GEESE.



The Renton Burrowing Owl fits some of the circumstances of other westside stragglers over the years. The most recent Skagit County record of which I'm aware was also a March 20 bird, just north of La Conner, in a highly-altered but mostly open habitat. If memory serves there have been several others late March-April, coinciding with regular arrival in eWA.



Scott Atkinson

Lake Stevens

mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

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