On November 8, I visited the Samish Flats. Perched in the distance near the East 90 (east of the Samish T) I noticed a very dark buteo. I concluded that it was probably a dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, but I desired a better view.

Yesterday (11.16.10) I visited the flats again. I looked for the dark bird. Found one in flight near the Samish T. I soon realized that it was a different bird. It was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. After consulting Raptors of Western North America by Brian K. Wheeler, I concluded that this bird was a juvenile dark morph brown type. Photos of this bird are at http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/dark_morph_roughlegged_hawk .

As I drove east towards Edison I spotted another dark buteo in flight. I think this one was the RED-TAILED HAWK I had been looking for. Another trip is required for that bird.

The Samish Flats never cease to amaze me. The variations of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and RED-TAILED HAWK are well represented in that small area. Not to mention HARLAN'S HAWK. I am trying to get a handle on juvenile harlan's. When I do, I'll put up some photos.

Also on the Samish Flats yesterday PEREGRINE FALCONS hunted DUNLIN. The huge Dunlin flock seemed to move between the flooded field on Bayview/Edison Rd and the field across from the West 90.

At the West 90 I studied a number of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. No golden-plover could I find. There were a few WESTERN SANDPIPERS and one DOWITCHER. A peregrine flushed the dow before I could ID to specie. I won't automatically label the dow as a long-billed. I have 5 sightings of Short-billed Dowitcher on the Samish Flats in November and December over the last two years.

Good birding.


Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net