Birders,
There was a nice break in the weather and we were able to take advantage
of it on a rare day birding to the north of our usual spots.
Thanks to Joe Meche for the trip tips.
We did see the large numbers of loons that others had mentioned in the
Blaine area. Also had good numbers of two kinds of scoters and fair
number of long tailed ducks. The light of the day was just right to
make the colors really shine on the red headed merganser and common
goldeneye, among others.
The real highlight of the trip came when we were leaving the Birch Bay
area headed back to the freeway.
By the Cherry Point refinery we stopped to look at a really dark morphed
red tailed hawk. While I was looking at it through the scope my wife
said - what's that white bird? We had to go through some looks at the
soaring bird before I saw a red tail and figured that it was a leucistic
red tailed hawk. Almost completely white on the whole top of the bird
and darker on the bottom. Flying around near an eagle was also good
perspective of size.
Right about then she also spotted a nicely perching Northern shrike on a
bush about 50 yards from the road.
What a nice way to end a good birding day. High clouds with some brief
sunshine and great birds.
Jeff Osmundson
Arlington.