Subject: [Tweeters] Big Ditch to West 90 - 11/10/12
Date: Nov 11 13:04:30 2012
From: Barbara Deihl - barbdeihl at comcast.net


Fairly few birds actively displaying themselves where I was in the 3 'flats' areas north of Stanwood, but enough interesting finds to make the day a good break away from the usual. From a slow start to a magnificent finale, coupled with the sunny, crisp weather, made for a fine afternoon/evening of birding. Here's some highlights seen by myself and others I talked to at the following locations:

BIG DITCH (off Old Pacific Highway, north of Stanwood) - 1-1:10 p.m. (a quick stop)

Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Wilson's Snipe
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
lots of starlings

NORTH FORK ACCESS (dike and beyond at end of Rawlins Rd.) - 1:20 - 1:40 p.m. (another short stop)

female Northern Harriers (2)
Wilson's Snipe
Snow Geese
Swans
Northern Shrike - at first on bush on dike and then it flew down toward Rawlins and up and over the dike to the north of the road
(Short-eared Owl - at least one, seen by others, but not by me)
American Kestrel on wire on Maupin Rd. - another seen a bit later on Farm-to-Mkt. Road near the Josh Wilson Rd. intersection
Bald Eagle pair in tree on Best Rd. close to SR 20
many Red-tailed Hawks (here, there and everywhere)
(Rough-legged Hawk seen by Ronda on Short Rd.)


------------------- break for a mid-afternoon lunch at Old Edison Inn in Edison - none of us saw the Edison Merlin that was seen Nov. 8


WEST 90 (in the Samish Flats, where Bayview-Edison Rd. turns into Samish Island Rd going north) - 3:45 - 5:45 p.m.

up to 7 Short-eared Owls seen around the periphery and, by the end of my time there (5:45p.m.) some were moving around closer to the path and the parking lot - lots of barking (owl) - much flight activity, at both low and medium height from the ground
Rough-legged Hawk was a constant feature out in the fields - often swooped on by several SEOW at once - occasionally it would fly off (slowly) to another perch
probably at least a half dozen female Northern Harriers - occasionally a short, mild confrontation with a SEOW
one male NOHA which, really got into it with one of the SEOW (the owl was the instigator) toward the end of my 'watch'
a small collection of Dunlin seen near the north end of the W 90 fields

inflying ducks, Snow Geese and starling-sized birds, filled the sky with dark, criss-crossing masses and much calling, as they settled onto field and bay for the night
buteos galore, seemingly on most posts out in the west side of the fields by 5 p.m.
a small group of us watched and photographed for as long as we could - the cold drove some away - slight wind, but bone-chilling temps - I was thinking that, with warm-enough clothing and the right camera gear, some good video footage could be had of those owls and harriers...

toward the end of my stay, a woman and 2 young boys (10-12-ish?) showed up to watch the birds and all 3 really enjoyed seeing and hearing all of them, but they were particularly fascinated by the Shortears.
the hunters apparently didn't do much shooting that afternoon (I don't recall hearing any) because the ducks and geese didn't come close enough to where they were, until after sunset - one hunter gave me a little lesson in duck-call recognition - I hadn't known that it is only Mallard females who make that "Waah, waah, waah" call - the drakes do something different. Wigeons and Pintails whistle.

I found myself welcoming the warmth of Stanwood Starbucks coffee after I left the Samish Flats...
little traffic by the time I headed south on I-5 at around 7 p.m. - much different from the congestion I heard about up near Burlington around noon - guess I lucked out.

A nice day, with great cake icing provided by the good number of active SEOW. the cake itself was good, as well, with a tasty combination of ingredients - good weather, nice people and a sprinkling of interesting non-owl birds :-)


Barb Deihl

North Matthews Beach - NE Seattle

barbdeihl at comcast.net