By Pam Pritzl

This column reports submitted sightings. Any rare sightings should be accompanied by detailed written documentation and if possible a photograph. A second person to verify rare sightings is extremely helpful. Do not hesitate to call any observer to help document unusual sightings. Also do not hesitate to call if you need clarification on locations.
Please submit your sightings to Pam Pritzl at birdsightings@skagitaudubon.org or 360-387-7024. 

Here is the ABA Tweetters :  WEB Site

Here is the Tweeters Birding Email List : Tweeters Email

WATERFOWL
Greater White-fronted Goose 2 on Minkler Flats on 1-24 (GB)
Snow Goose 1 “blue” goose on the Samish Flats on 2-16 and 3-4 (JB)
Wood Duck 2 at Milltown on 2-13 (GB); 2 pair at Gages Slough, Burlington, on 3-13 and 3-18 (RH)

Wood Duck Photo by Ron Holmes

Eurasian Wigeon 10 at the West 90 on 2-20 (BK); 2 near Cockreham Island on 2-28 (GB); 9 on the Samish Flats on 3-17 (PP)
Canvasback 2 on Beaver Lake on 2-13 (GB); 1 on Beaver Lake on 2-17 (BK); 1 on Lake Erie on 3-7 (SAS)
Redhead 1 on Lake Erie on 1-25 (GB); 4 on Lake Erie on 3-7 (SAS)
Black Scoter 1 drake off March Point on 2-8 (GB)
Long-tailed Duck 33 at Samish Island Public Beach on 2-20 (BK)

GALLINACEOUS BIRDS
Ruffed Grouse 1 at Barnaby Slough on 3-7 (GB)

LOONS
Pacific Loon 80 on Utsalady Bay (Skagit Bay) on 2-17 (PP)

VULTURES
Turkey Vulture 1 at Butler Hill on 3-4 (RH); 4 flying over Mt. Erie on 3-7 (SAS); 1 near Green Road, Burlington on 3-8 (TM)

HAWKS and EAGLES
Red-tailed Hawk 1 light morph Harlan’s on Samish Flats on 2-14, 3-7 and 3-13 (AW)
Rough-legged Hawk 1 dark morph male on Estes Road on 2-14 (AW)
Golden Eagle 1 on Samish Flats on 2-21 (GB); 1 at the Samish T on 2-21 and 1 on Sullivan Rd on 3-7 (AW)

SANDPIPERS. PHALAROPES, and ALLIES
Spotted Sandpiper 1 in La Conner on 3-10 (BK, KK)
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 appears to be wintering at the Skagit Game Range, seen on 2-28 and 3-8 (GB) rare in winter
Marbled Godwit 1 at March Point on 3-14 (GB)
Long-billed Dowitcher 3 at Big Indian Slough on 3-14 (GB, originally found by KK)

ALCIDS
Rhinoceros Auklet 60 off Green Point, Washington Park, Anacortes, on 3-1 (GB)

GULLS and TERNS
Western Gull 3 at Jensen Access on 2-13 (GB)
Herring Gull 1 at Jensen Access on 2-13 (GB)
Thayer's Gull 1 at Burlington on 1-18, 2 on 2-5, and 1 on 2-7 (GB)
Glaucous Gull 1 at Burlington on 2-5 (GB)

PIGEONS and DOVES
Mourning Dove 54 off March Point on 2-8 (GB)

OWLS
Western Screech-Owl 1 in Hockson-Hoogdal area on 2-10 (GB)
Great Horned Owl 1 at Butler Hill on 3-19 (RH); 2 at the Skagit Game Range on 3-21 (SAS)
Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 at Rockport SP on 1-17 (GB)
Short-eared Owl 4 on Samish Flats on 2-23 (RH); 1 on Samish Flats on 3-12 (RH); 2 at the West 90 on 3-17 (PP)

HUMMINGBIRDS
Rufous Hummingbird 1 male at Camano Island home on 2-28 (PP)

FALCONS
American Kestrel 1 female at Butler Flats on 2-21 and3-17 (RH)
Merlin 1 at North 90 on 3-7 (AW)
Peregrine Falcon 1 on Sunset Road on 3-7 (AW); 1 on Samish Island Road on 3-7 (AW); 1 on Sullivan Road on 3-17 (PP)

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Say's Phoebe 1 at Corkindale on 3-16 (GB); 2 near Marblemount on 3-18 (BK, KK)

SHRIKES
Northern Shrike 1 at Channel Drive on 3-8 (KK)

VIREOS
Hutton's Vireo 1 at Camano Island home from 1-29 to present (PP); 1 at Judy Reservoir on 2-13 (GB)

LARKS
Horned Lark 6 on Valley Road near LaConner on 3-21 (SAS)

SWALLOWS
Tree Swallow 50 at Lake McMurray on 2-22 (GB); 3 at Green Road Marsh on 3-8 (TM)
Violet-green Swallow 1 each at Clear Lake and Beaver Lake on 3-14 (GB)
Barn Swallow 1 at the Skagit Game Range on 1-25 (GB)

BUSHTITS
Bushtit pair at nest feeding young at the Skagit Game Range on 3-7 (KK)

Bushtit Photo by Joe Halton

DIPPERS
American Dipper 2 at Pomona Grange County Park on 2-17 (BK)

THRUSHES
Mountain Bluebird 3 near Marblemount on 3-16 (GB); 2 near Marblemount on 3-18 (BK, KK)

WAXWINGS  
Cedar Waxwing 39 on Lincoln Hill, Mount Vernon on 3-12 (TM)

WOOD WARBLERS
Northern Waterthrush 1 at the Skagit Game Range on 1-25 and 2-13 (GB); 1 at the Skagit Game Range on 2-7 and 2-24 (BK, KK)
Orange-crowned Warbler 1 in La Conner on 3-10 (BK, KK); 1 at suet feeder at home in Anacortes on 3-17 (JBo)
Yellow Warbler 1 male on suet in Burlington backyard on 3-18 (LE)

SPARROWS and ALLIES
White-throated Sparrow 1 in Sedro-Woolley on 2-5 (GB); 1 at the Skagit Game Range on 2-16 (JB); 1 at the Skagit Game Range on 2-24 (BK, KK)
Dark-eyed Junco 1 “slate-colored” male at Butler Hill on 3-12 (RH)  

BLACKBIRDS and ORIOLES
Western Meadowlark 3 along Burmaster Road on 3-5 (BK)
Brown-headed Cowbird 1 male at Samish Flats on 3-12 (RH)

FINCHES and ALLIES
Red Crossbill flock feeding on Douglas fir cones, Goose Rock, Deception Pass SP on 2-15 (CEG); 4 pair regularly seen at Camano Island home during March (SRP)
Evening Grosbeak 15 at Butler Hill on 3-17 (RH)

 

(JB) Joan Bird; (JBo) Jackie Boss; (LE) Larry Edwards; (GB) Gary Bletsch; (CEG) Carolyn and Ed Gastellum; (RH) Ron Holmes; (BK) Bob Kuntz; (KK) Kraig Kemper; (TM) Tim Manns; (PP) Pam Pritzl; (SRP) Sheila and Ron Pera; (SAS) Skagit Audubon Society Field Trip; (AW) Andrea Warner