Hi Tweets

Several of us from Seattle Audubon took a trip to the Samish/Skagit flats today. Well, we did modify the trip somewhat because of some of the birds up that way. The day started out clear and cold. As we made our way north we gradually came under some cloud cover. We followed the Stillaguamish River Valley thru Silvana and onto Norman Road. We got nice looks at TRUMPETER SWANs (with a small flock of DUNLIN), a huge flock of EUROPEAN STARLINGs including some BREWER'S BLACKBIRDs, several BALD EAGLEs (adult and immature), and several wet fields with lots of MALLARDs. At one spot we had 30 EURASIAN COLLARD-DOVES in a tree. A flock of PINE SISKINs worked over an Alder tree. At the intersection with Marine Drive we stopped to scope a raptor in the top of Cottonwood. It turned out to be a really pretty Peregrine Falcon.

As we drove down Boe Road several waves of SNOW GEESE flew over us. At the end of the road we scanned to see if any of the Snowy Owls reported were visible - at last at a distance of maybe 1/2 mile there was a white bird on the ground. Thru the scope it had the shape of a SNOWY OWL and moved its head - not very satisfactory. We next drove around to Thomle Road. From the dike behind the old metal barn we turned up a less distant SNOWY OWL perched in among some old stumps. This bird was recognizable, we could see its eyes and watch its movements. At both locations there were myriad NORTHERN HARRIERs, a couple of RED-TAILED HAWKs.

Next we drove up onto the plateau above Stanwood and to the retention ponds on 75th Street NE (north of 284th Avenue NE). There we managed to see the BLACK PHOEBE, perched in the top of a tree between the two ponds. A single RING-NECKED DUCK was on the pond and DARK-EYED JUNCOs and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWs hid in the bushes.

We now resumed the regular part of the trip and went up onto the Samish Flats (out from under the clouds and in the sun - it eventually got up to 46F). Lots of scattered, small flocks of TRUMPETER SWANs, one flock of SNOW GEESE, still more NORTHERN HARRIERs. A few BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEEs and a few RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDs. Up around Blanchard there were lots of HOUSE SPARROWs, several HOUSE FINCH, more BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEEs. A COOPER'S HAWK hung around in an anticipatory manner.

Out to Edison, where after a stop at the Farm to Market Bakery and the Bread Farm, we saw a couple hundred GREEN-WINGED TEAL along the slough. Several COMMON RAVENs flew thru, a couple of BALD EAGLEs, and some HOUSE FINCH were in the bushes across the slough.

With much scanning at the West 90 we managed to see at least 15 NORTHERN HARRIERs (males, females, immature), several BALD EAGLES, and a RED-TAILED HAWK. No Short-eared Owls. It was really quiet. The wind had picked up and probably kept some of the small birds down.

On Samish Island, at the Wharf Road Access (now maintained by Skagit County with porta potties, a rebuilt trail and a new metal stair) we were able to pick up a fair number of birds in spite of the strong north winds stirring things up on Samish Bay. We saw HORNED GREBEs, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs, SURF SCOTERs, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, BRANDT'S CORMORANT, COMMON and BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, BRANT, BUFFLEHEAD, and LONG-TAILED DUCK. Leaving Samish Island we saw a few tightly clustered groups of ducks (probably American Wigeon, but too backlit to i.d. well).

Driving the roads on the Samish Flats was disappointing for this time of year with very few birds around - no falcons, no shorebirds, and few other raptors. There were many scattered small groups of Trumpeter Swans and a small flock of gulls including RING-BILLED, GLAUCOU-WINGED and WESTERN.

On the way down to Fir Island we saw two AMERICAN KESTRELs along Dodge Valley Road. We stopped at the feeders on Valentine Road. Lots of birds, BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEEs, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERs, lots of DARK-EYED JUNCOs, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWs, SONG SPARROW, MOURNING DOVE, PURPLE FINCH, HOUSE FINCH, CALIFORNIA QUAIL.

On Fir Island we drove to the end of Rawlins Road and from the dike we watched another collection of NORTHERN HARRIERs. But, the highlight was two SHORT-EARED OWLs interacting violently with swoops, dives, climbing circles, close claw thrusts. This happened over at least 5 minutes, with occasional diversions with Northern Harriers. This was the first time I have seen this kind of behavior in Short-eareds.

At various other locations we saw CANADA GOOSE, GREAT BLUE HERON, ROCK PIGEON, NORTHERN FLICKER, STELLER'S JAY, AMERICAN CROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and AMERICAN ROBIN.

60 species was pretty good for a cold, windy day, with good friends

Good Birding,

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA
mail to bell asoc at iso media dot com