On Monday morning, 10/22, in the northwestern part of Port Susan Bay there
was a Leach's Storm-Petrel flying around, perhaps blown in by the wind over
the weekend? It was in Island County waters for those keeping track.
There was also a Clark's Grebe in the same general area. On Tuesday
morning there was a Pomarine Jaeger about halfway up the west side of
Camano Island in Saratoga Passage. Up in Crescent Harbor was another
Clark's Grebe. There were also five Parasitic Jaegers around Camano Island
that day, most of which were associated with the many Bonaparte's Gulls in
the area. The exact locations for the Leach's, Pomarine and Clark's Grebes
are plotted in eBird.

Yesterday, 10/25, up in Skagit at Jensen Access there was an adult Red
Knot, surprisingly still in its colorful breeding plumage. Looking north
from the northeast corner of March Point there was a bright Clark's Grebe
and at least 85 Common Loons among the many other waterbirds viewable from
there.

Since at least Sunday there has been a group of "Aleutian" Cackling Geese
hanging out with the Snow Geese on Fir Island. They seem to be quite
unusual away from the outer coast in Washington and I'm not aware of any
previous reports in Skagit County. On Sunday afternoon the flock was at
Hayton Reserve, while yesterday they were nearby at the intersection of Fir
Island Rd and Maupin Rd. Yesterday there were at least fourteen birds, one
of which has a blue collar. Also in the flock were around 20 Greater-white
fronted Geese. At least two were adult "Tule" GWF Geese which have also
been around since at least Sunday. It was a great comparison seeing these
two large, dark-headed, thick-necked birds next to two of our typical
birds. There was also a single immature Blue morph Snow Goose.

"Aleutian" Cackling Geese:
www.flickr.com/photos/rjm284/8124139617/

"Tule" GWF Geese:
www.flickr.com/photos/rjm284/8125512545/

Good birding,
Ryan Merrill
Kirkland
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