Subject: [Tweeters] Thomle Road Eagles and Eide Road Sora (?)
Date: Feb 19 20:22:49 2014
From: Blair Bernson - blair at washingtonadvisorygroup.com


I birded a few spots on the I-5 Corridor in
Snohomish County today. Finally hit the Point
Edwards Pond at a time that the Redhead was
present (joined by a Hooded Merganser, two
Mallards and a female Ring Necked Duck that sure
seemed to have paired up with the Redhead). Good
assortment of gulls at Everett Marine Park and
lots of ducks at the Everett Sewage Ponds. Eide
Road was pretty quiet with lots of new water. No
shorebirds of any kind. Red Tail, Bald Eagle and
Rough Legged Hawk and a Barn Owl. Big surprise
was what I can only judge was a Sora. Heard its
unmistakeable whinny on the slough/river side of
the dike about 300 yards west of the last parking
lot. It sure seems early but I cannot think of
anything else that sounds like that. Heard
clearly twice. A large flock of Snow Geese was
seen in the distance from Eide and there were many
Trumpeter Swans in the field on the North side of
the road that comes into Eide and continues to
Camano (never can remember the road number/name).

Returning to Edmonds I went the length of Thomle
Road before ending the day at Port Susan where two
Short Eared Owls and a Kestrel were the only
treats. Along Thomle however were a very large
number of Bald Eagles perhaps 6-10 in trees and at
least another 25-30 in the fields including a
single group of 18 that were together probably on
or near an unseen carcass. No more than a third
of the Eagles were white headed adults. Quite a
sight to see the large birds on the ground - which
of course is very flat alluvial plain so they
really stand out.

Coming home on Norman Road, I ran into a very
large mixed flock of Blackbirds (Brewer's and
Redwings) and Starlings - perhaps 500 birds in
all. I tried to find a Rusty but was
unsuccessful. Would not be surprised if one was
present.

--
Blair Bernson
Edmonds