I started birding in Blaine today. Saw my first CASPIAN TERN of the year in Drayton Harbor. Also 3 loons, 5 grebes (all except Clark's), a few LONG-TAILED DUCKS and GREATER YELLOWLEGS.

Next I birded the mud flats just south of the marina. To my surprise, at close range were: 2 BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, 2 MARBLED GODWITS and 1 WHIMBREL.

At Blaine and Alderson Roads was an adult male TAIGA MERLIN. Beautiful bird.

At the rocky island off Larrabee Park (just behind the amphitheatre) were 14 SURFBIRDS and 2 BLACK TURNSTONES. At the rocks a bit north of there were 20 more SURFBIRDS, 3 BLACK TURNSTONES. Also a singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER near the road.
Leaving Whatcom County, I dropped down into Skagit County on Chuckanut Drive. I stopped at the big parking lot by Chuckanut Manor Restaurant on a whim. Sometimes whims work. There were 2 WHIMBREL way out on the mud flats.

Didn't spend much time on the Samish Flats. Saw one Rough-legged Hawk. A few BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, some looking quite regal. A few DUNLIN.

Lots of SNOW GEESE remain on FIR ISLAND. The only swan I saw was a single TRUMPETER SWAN on Dodge Valley Road near La Conner.


Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
marvbreece at q.com