Hi Tweets



Yesterday, the Washington Ornithological Society took a trip to the Samish
and Skagit Flats. The day started out early under overcast and slightly
rainy skies. The rain stopped about the time we reached the Mt. Vernon area,
and we had just started to have enough light to really see some birds. On
the way up along I-5 we did see some AMERICAN CROWs. Near Mt. Vernon we
started to see swans flying overhead.



We pulled off on Chuckanut Drive and then on Pulver Rd where we had
TRUMPETER SWAN (heard them as well as saw) and SONG SPARROW. As we got back
to Chuckanut in Allan we saw a field loaded with swans. We stopped in the
small county park and scoped the swans from just across the road. The swans
were largely TRUMPETER, but we were quickly able to find a few TUNDRA mixed
in. SNOW GEESE started flying overhead, and a decent size group landed with
the swans. Also mixed in were MALLARD, CANADA GOOSE, NORTHERN PINTAIL,
RING-BILLED GULL, AMERICAN CROW, EUROPEAN STARLING GLACOUS-WINGED GULL,
AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. ON the wire overhead there were
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE.



By this time the cloud cover was starting to break up, but we had consistent
10-15 mph winds with a temperature of about 45F (definitely chilly). We took
Ershig Road and saw more EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVEs, GLACOUS-WINGED GULL, and
RING-BILLED GULL, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, DARK-EYED JUNCO and distant RED-TAILED
HAWK. Along Worline Rd. we saw MOURNING DOVE, NORTHERN FLICKER, and ROCK
PIGEON. On Cemetery Rd. at a house with feeders we saw SPOTTED TOWHEE,
DARK-EYED JUNCO, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK flew thru.
We turned onto Bow Hill Rd. toward Bow and saw NORTHERN FLICKER and
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE.



After a stop at the Farm-to-Market Bakery for some goodies, we drove
Chuckanut Drive where we saw more SNOW GEESE, BALD EAGLE, MALLARD,
BUFFLEHEAD, EUROPEAN STARLING, AMERICAN KESTREL (nice male), NORTHRN
HARRIER, COMMON RAVEN, and RED-TAILED HAWK. In the distance to the north
there was a huge flock of likely American Wigeon, but too distant for good
i.d.



In the Blanchard area at the Colony Creek lagoon we saw BUFFLEHEAD, GREAT
BLUE HERON, SONG SPARROW and FOX SPARROW. On Blanchard Rd. we saw DARK-EYED
JUNCO, FOX SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, STELLERS' JAY, HOUSE SPARROW,
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.



We proceeded toward Edison and turned on Smith Road where we had NORTHERN
HARRIER, EURASION COLLARED-DOVE, GREAT BLUE HERON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and
BALD EAGLE. In Edison we saw BELTED KINGFISHER, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and
AMERICAN CROW. As we transitioned to Bayview-Edison Rd. we saw a single
AMERICAN COOT. We also saw BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, NOTHERN HARRIER, MALLARD,
AMERICAN WIGEON, HOUSE FINCH, EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE, BALD EAGLE, WESTERN
MEADOWLARK, and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. On Samish Island Rd. we scanned a field
just before the W90 and saw BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, DUNLIN and a SHARP-TAILED
SANDPIPER.



The W90 was pretty quiet (and cold and windy) with BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN
HARRIER, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, WESTERN GULL, RING-BILLED GULLs. A ways north
along Samish Island Rd. we watched a PEREGINE FALCON preening in the field.



At Wharf Rd. on Samish Bay we could see BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BLACK
SCOTER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANT, HORNED GREBE, SURF SCOTER, PACIFIC LOON, and RED-NECKED GREBE.
After a stop for lunch (in the car because of the winds) we headed back down
to Bayview-Edison Rd. and turned onto Sullivan Rd. Here we found
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, GREAT BLUED HERON, EUROPEAN STARLING, SPOTTED TOWHEE,
DARK-EYED JUNCO and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD.



On Persons Road we saw NORTHERN FLICKER and RED-TAILED HAWK. On Padilla Bay
we saw some very distant AMERICAN WIGEON. Up in Bayview State Park we found
PACIFIC WREN, VARIED THRUSH, AMERICAN ROBIN, DARK-EYED JUNCO,
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and
BROWN CREEPER.



On Dodge Valley Rd. we had more TRUMPETER and TUNDRA SWANs and EUROPEAN
STARLING. At the feeder's on Valentine Rd. there were RUBY CROWNED KINGLET,
DOWNY WOODPECKER (two males and a female), BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE,
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, SPOTTED TOWHEE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, NORTHERN FLICKER and MOURNING DOVE.



At the end of Rawlins Rd. we saw GREAT BLUE HERON, RED-TAILED HAWK, MALLARD,
NORTHERN HARRIER, BUFFLEHEAD and heard MARSH WREN. At the Hayton Preserve
there were MALLARD, AMERICAN WIGEON, dowitcher (fly over), GREAT BLUE HERON
and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE.



We also saw GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, COOPER'S HAWK, PINE SISKIN.



Despite the chilly, windy day we had a good time and saw many interesting
birds (68 species).



Good Birding



Brian H. Bell

Woodinville Wa

Mail to bell asoc a t iso media dot com