Subject: [Tweeters] Skagit Birding
Date: Fri Nov 30 10:56:34 PST 2018
From: Marv Breece - marvbreece at q.com

Yesterday (11.29.18) was another fabulous birding day in western Skagit County. Hayton Reserve on Fir Island was full of the usual shorebirds as well as a SHORT-EARED OWL, which seems to be showing up there more than in the past. There was also a NORTHERN SHRIKE.

On the Samish Flats there was a "frosty" BALD EAGLE at the West 90. This is probably the same bird that wintered there last year.

I saw 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS from Sunset Rd looking to the south and a DARK MORPH HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK. This is most likely the same Harlan's I have seen a few times this season from Field Road.

Between the East 90 (degree bend in the road) and the "eagle tree", another DARK MORPH HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK & a WESTERN RED-TAILED HAWK had a dustup, probably over hunting territory. I took video hand-holding the camera from inside the car to avoid spooking the birds. No chance to use a tripod.

Along D'Arcy Rd was a perched MALE TAIGA MERLIN. The same bird, or another, was perched along Bayview Cemetery Rd near Padilla Bay HQ.

On the way back south, a small flock of BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS held a female RUSTY BLACKBIRD. This was along Best Rd, where Calhoun goes east and Chilberg goes west.

At the Skagit Game Range (aka Wiley Slough), I was fortunate to see one of the previously reported SWAMP SPARROWS. Didn't see the Tree Sparrow.

Videos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/138163614 at N02/
Images: http://www.pbase.com/marvbreece/new_images

It was a good day.

--
Marv Breece
Tukwila, WA
marvbreece at q.com

"what are the costs to a society of an entire population conditioned to spend so much of their waking lives not in concentration and focus but rather in fragmentary awareness and subject to constant interruption?" - The Attention Merchants by Tim Wu

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