I spent yesterday birding in the Upper Skagit Valley with Evan Houston and
Randy Knapp. As usual it was a fun and interesting day, with 47 species
found including a few surprises.

At Sauk Prairie there was an interesting goose flock consisting of 6
Taverner's Cackling Geese and 2 Lesser Canada Geese. There was also a
young Northern Shrike and a flyover flock of 6 Common Redpolls.

Bryson Road had a Sooty x Red Fox Sparrow, a Cassiar Junco, 2 Western
Purple Finches and 20 Evening Grosbeaks. On Martin Road an adult Peregrine
Falcon and a lone Common Redpoll flew over. Our second Northern Shrike of
the day was at Sutter Creek Roadside Rest.

In Marblemount along Highway 20 just south of Emerald Lane there were 8+
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS mixed in with at least 110 Type 3 Red Crossbills
that were busy feeding on the Western Hemlocks and Alders. We had very
nice views through the scope for the hour that we watched them. There was
also a male Slate-colored Junco at the nearby feeders.

www.flickr.com/photos/rjm284/8275528440/

In Newhalem there was an American Robin on the lawn. Up in Diablo there
were 2 Northern Flickers, 3 more American Robins, 5 Song Sparrows, 2 Common
Redpolls and 40 Pine Siskins. We ended the day at Barnaby Slough where
there were a couple Pileated Woodpeckers and a good view of a Great Horned
Owl in the tree tops.

Good birding,
Ryan Merrill
Kirkland
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