I've been birding a few times in and around the Skagit and Samish
Flats recently. As many people I'm sure are aware, it's been an good
year for wintering raptors in the area. The West 90 on the Samish
Flats has been particularly productive with more Rough-legged Hawks
than most winters and today the most Short-eared Owls I've ever seen
(54+!). During the CBC at dusk both Snowy and Long-eared Owls were
viewable from the parking area and the Long-eared was still around as
of this afternoon. Here are the highlights and links to a few eBird
checklists and associated photos:

12 Jan 2013
1 young Blue Goose with the Snow Goose flock on Fir Island
2 Harlan's Hawk - dark ad Bradshaw Rd, dark juv Sullivan Rd
1 Black Oystercatcher - March Point
1 Long-eared Owl - West 90
54+ Short-eared Owl including 47 (!) in a single scan at West 90
3 Savannah Sparrow - West 90
31 Western Meadowlark - West 90

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12582162


1 Jan 2013
1 young Blue Goose with the Snow Goose flock on Fir Island
1 young Gyrfalcon at Hayton Reserve

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12469423


29 Dec 2012 - Padilla Bay CBC
1 American Bittern - West 90
2 Virginia Rail - West 90
2 Herring Gull - Samish Island and West 90
1 Snowy Owl - West 90
1 Long-eared Owl - West 90

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12469501


26 Dec 2012
Francis & Thilberg Rds
1 Golden Eagle
3 Savannah Sparrow
40 Lincoln's Sparrow
2 Swamp Sparrow
15 Brown-headed Cowbird

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12376504


Good birding,
Ryan Merrill
Kirkland