Subject: [Tweeters] EAS Samish/Skagit 16 Jan 2019
Date: Thu Jan 17 16:36:33 PST 2019
From: B P Bell - bellasoc at isomedia.com

Hi Tweets



Yesterday, Eastside Audubon took a field trip to the Samish and Skagit
Flats. We had excellent weather with mostly sun, a few clouds, temperatures
between 30F and 50F and no wind ( a brief period of about 5 mph from the
North on Samish Island.



On the way up we ( it was mostly still dark early) we did see AMERICAN CROW
and COMMON RAVEN. On Pulver Road we saw EUROPEAN STARLING and BALD EAGLE. On
Ershig Rd. we added BALD EAGLE (tons of them during the day), BREWER'S
BLACKBIRD, EUROPEAN STARLING, COOPER'S HAWK (scattered a flock of finches),
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL
hybrid.



Worline Rd. was excellent with HOUSE FINCH, NORTHERN FLICKER, EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, TRUMPETER SWAN,
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, RED-TAILED HAWK (lots of them also), HOUSE SPARROW,
BALD EAGLE, AMERICAN ROBIN, and GREAT BLUE HERON.



On Bow Cemetary Rd. we saw MALLARD. Bow Hill Rd. gave us AMERICAN ROBIN,
BALD EAGLE, and MOURNING DOVE. Along Chuckanut Dr. we saw BALD EAGLE,
AMERICAN WIGEON, EURASIAN WIGEON, GREAT BLUE HERON, MALLARD, and AMERICAN
KESTREL. Blanchard Rd. saw NORTHERN FLICKER, HOUSE SPARROW (the blackberry
clump was rocking), and AMERICAN ROBIN.



Smith Rd. in Edison saw GREEN-WINGED TEAL, MALLARD, GREAT BLUE HERON, COMMON
RAVEN, and RED-TAILED HAWK.



On Bayview-Edison Rd. we saw BALD EAGLE (did I say we saw lots of them
during the trip - probably in excess of 50), AMERICAN WIGEON, EURASIAN
WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL, DUNLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, NORTHERN HARRIER,
RED-TAILED HAWK, SONG SPARROW, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK,
and TRUMPETER and TUNDRA SWANs.



At the West 90 there were multiples of BALD EAGLE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK,
RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, and DUNLIN, TRUMPETER SWAN, MARSH WREN,
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, and EUROPEAN STARLING.



We made a lunch stop at the Wharf Rd. access (mid-40s with a 5 mph N wind -
brrr). We picked up SPOTTED TOWHEE, SURF SCOTER, LONG-TAILED DUCK, HORNED
GREBE, GREAT BLUE HERON, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, BUFFLEHEAD, WESTERN GREBE,
and BLACK SCOTER (2 females).



At Bayview-Edison S.P. we had SONG SPARROW, NORTHERN FLICKER, and FOX
SPARROW. At a private residence on Valentine Rd.(just off Best Rd.) we saw
BUSHTIT and HOUSE FINCH. Further around the corner at Valentine Ranch had
unbelievable looks at both HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKERS on the suet feeder
(both males and females). Also COMMON RAVEN.



Along Rawlins Rd. we had a nice mixed flock of TRUMPETER and TUNDRA SWANs,
NORTHER HARRIER, PURPLE FINCH, SONG SPARROW, MARSH WREN and at least two
(maybe three) SHORT-EARED OWLs (a couple of passes only about 30 feet away).
Along Maupin Rd. we had NORTHERN SHRIKE and BELTED KINGFISHER.



Hayton Preserve was loaded with ducks GADWALL, MALLARD, AMERICAN WIGEON,
GREAT BLUE HERON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, in the
distance a huge flock of a SNOW GEESE made a racket, and a PIED-BILLED
GREBE. But the highlight was a BALD EAGLE perched in the eagle tree with a
GYRFALCON above it. The Gyrfalcon was there when we pulled in at 3 PM and
finally flushed by an eagle at 3:15. We were able to study the Gyrfalcon
with spotting scopes for 15 minutes. When we first saw it we thought
Peregrine Falcon, but it was too bulky, the primary tips fell short of the
tail tip and when it turned it's head the pattern was just right. It was a
gray adult bird. The highlight of the day. When it flushed it flew off and
out of sight behind screening trees but further north on Fir Island.



A great day with good folks and we finished with 60 species for the day -
not bad for spending most of our time ooogling raptors.



Good Birding!



Brian H. Bell

Woodinville Wa

mail to bell as oc at iso me dia dot com

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