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 birdsightings@skagitaudubon.org or 360-387-7024.
Here is the ABA Tweeters : WEB Site
Ebird for Skagit County : Ebird List
To download the Audubon Bird Guide, go to: www.audubon.org/apps
WATERFOWL
Wood Duck 5 pair at SWAWS on 5-4 (MS); 4 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH)
Blue-winged Teal 1 at SWAWS on 5-11 (GB)
Cinnamon Teal pair at SWAWS on 4-24 (MS); 6 at SWAWS on 4-27 (NOH); 3 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH); 1 at Hansen Creek on 5-11 (SAS)
Northern Shoveler 4 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH)
Ring-necked Duck 1 at SWAWS on 4-24 (MS)
Harlequin Duck 1 at Rosario Beach on 4-23 (NOH)
Common Goldeneye 1, March Pt. on 4-27 (GB)
GREBES
Red-necked Grebe 1 at SHIP on 4-25 (NOH)
SWIFTS
Vaux's Swift 3 at Hansen Creek on 5-11 (SAS)
HUMMINGBIRDS
Anna's Hummingbird 1 at SHIP on 4-29 (NOH); 3 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH); 3 at SHIP on 5-10 (NOH)
Rufous Hummingbird 1 at SHIP 4-25 (NOH); 1 at SWAWS on 4-27 (NOH); 1 at NSRA on 4-28 (NOH); 2 at SHIP on 4-29 (NOH)
RAILS and COOTS
Virginia Rail 1 at SHIP on 4-25 (NOH); 1 at SHIP on 4-29 (NOH); 4 at Hansen Creek on 5-11 (SAS); 1 at Sharpe’s Park, Anacortes on 5-12 (NOH)
Sora 1 at Big Ditch on 4-20 (MS); 2 at Hansen Creek on 5-11 (SAS)
American Coot 1 at SWAWS on 4-24 (MS)
OYSTERCATCHERS
Black Oystercatcher 2 at Rosario Beach on 4-23 (NOH); pair at north end Tommy Thompson trail on 5-1 (KR)
PLOVERS
Semipalmated Plover 18 at March Point 4-20 (GB)
SANDPIPERS and ALLIES
Whimbrel 6-200 at Rekdal Road farm field, Camano Island from 4-29 to -5-17 (AT & PP)
Marbled Godwit 4 at March Point 4-20 (GB)
Least Sandpiper 140 at SWAWS on 4-27 (NOH); 8 at SWAWS on 5-4 (MS); 3 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH);
Western Sandpiper about 50 at SWAWS on 5-4 (MS); 36 at SWAWS on 5-12 (MS)
Short-billed Dowitcher 2 dozen at SWAWS on 5-4 (MS); 6 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH); about 2 dozen at SWAWS on 5-12 (MS)
Long-billed Dowitcher 2 at SWAWS 5-12(MS)
Dowitcher sp. 8 at SWAWS on 4-24 (MS)
Spotted Sandpiper 1at Bryson Road 5-3 (JO)
Solitary Sandpiper 1 at Francis Road 5-4 (GB)
Lesser Yellowlegs about 25 at SWAWS on 5-4 (MS); 1 at SWAWS on 5-12 (MS)
Greater Yellowlegs 3 at SWAWS on 5-4 (MS)
Yellowlegs sp. 50 at SWAWS on 4-24 (MS)
Wilson's Phalarope 1 at SWAHR on 5-11 (GB)
ALCIDS
Marbled Murrelet 4 at Washington Park, Anacortes on 4-28 (YH)
Rhinoceros Auklet 1 at Washington Park, Anacortes on 4-28 (YH)
GULLS and TERNS
Bonaparte's Gull 139 at SWAHR on 5-11 (GB)
Caspian Tern 1 at Port Susan Bay TNC on 5-9 (JO)
Common Tern 1 at SWAHR on 5-11 (GB)
CORMORANTS
Pelagic Cormorant 1 possible partial leucistic (picture avail.) at Rosario Beach on 4-19 (YH)
PELICANS
American White Pelican 7 at March Point on 4-27 (GB); 7 flying over Skyline area, Anacortes on 5-1 (JL)
HERONS and ALLIES
American Bittern 1 at NSRA on 4-28 (NOH); 3 at Hansen Creek on 5-11 (SAS); 2 in Hamilton on 5-12 (GB)
OSPREYS
Osprey 1 at Wash. Park, Anacortes 4-17 (YH)
HAWKS, EAGLES and ALLIES
Bald Eagle 5 at SWAWS (nest with 2 adults and 2 chicks) on 5-4 (MS); 3 adults on nest on Sullivan Road this season (AW) UNUSUAL
Golden Eagle 1 at South Cascade Road on 4-21 (GB)
OWLS
Great Horned Owl 1 in La Conner yard on 5-10 (RWJ)
Short-eared Owl 1 at the East 90, Samish Flats on 4-23 (RWJ)
KINGFISHER
Belted Kingfisher 1 at SWAWS on 5-4 (MS)
WOODPECKERS
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 in La Conner yard throughout sighting period (RWJ)
Pileated Woodpecker 1 in Bow yard 5-2 (KR)
FALCONS
Merlin 1 at SWAWS on 4-27 (NOH)
Peregrine Falcon 1 at SWAWS on 5-12 (MS)
FLYCATCHERS
Dusky Flycatcher 1 near Cockreham Island on 5-5 (GB)
Black Phoebe 2 on nest at SWAWS on 5-4 and 5-12 (MS); 1 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH)
Say's Phoebe 1 at Marblemount Boat Launch on 4-14 (GB)
Western Kingbird 1 at Bryson Road on 5-3 (JO); 1 at Burmaster Road on 5-4 (GB)
VIREOS
Warbling Vireo 1 on Lincoln Hill, Mount Vernon on 4-29 (TM)
SWALLOWS
Purple Martin 1 at SHIP on 4-20 (GB); present on 4-29 at English Boom, Camano Island (AT); 1 at Port Susan TNC on 5-9 (JO)
Tree Swallow 6 at La Conner home on 5-15 (RWJ)
CREEPERS
Brown Creeper 1 at SWAWS Near boat launch on 5-4 (MS)
WRENS
Bewick's Wren 1 at SHIP on 4-25 (NOH)
Rock Wren 1 at Illabot Creek Alluvial Fan on 5-4 (GB) RARE
THRUSHES
Townsend's Solitaire 1 at Wash. Park, Anacortes 4-28 (YH); 1 at Bryson Rd 5-3 (JO)
MOCKINGBIRDS
Northern Mockingbird last seen at 1220 6th St, Anacortes on 3-21 (JOC)
PIPITS
American Pipit 30 on Sullivan Road, Samish Flats on 4-21 (AW)
FINCHES and ALLIES
Pine Siskin 2 at Anacortes yard on 4-23 (JOC)
American Goldfinch 4 at Anacortes yard 4-23 (JOC); 2 at La Conner home on 5-15 (RWJ)
SPARROWS and ALLIES
Vesper Sparrow 1 at Illabot Alluvial Fan on 5-4 (GB)
Lark Sparrow 1 near Marblemount (found by Mike Nelson) on 4-29 (GB) RARE
Savannah Sparrow 1 in tall grass at Bow home on 4-30 (KR)
White-crowned Sparrow 2 at La Conner home since 5-1 (RWJ)
Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 at La Conner home since 5-1 (RWJ)
BLACKBIRDS and ORIOLES
Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 near Cockreham Island on 4-20 (GB); 2 at SWAWS on 5-4 (JS)
Bullock's Oriole 2 in Bow yard on 5-5 (KR)
WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler 2 at SHIP on 4-29 (NOH); 3 on Samish Island on 5-2 (KR)
Nashville Warbler 1 at Hillcrest Park, Mount Vernon on 5-1 (TM)
Common Yellowthroat 1 at SHIP on 4-25 (NOH); 2 at NSRA on 4-28 (NOH); 1 at SHIP on 4-29 (NOH); 2 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH)
Yellow Warbler 1 female in Bow yard on 4-25 (KR); 1 at Cranberry Lake, Anacortes on 5-7 (NOH); 8 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH); 1 at SHIP on 5-10 (NOH)
Yellow-rumped Warbler 10 at SWAWS 4-27 (NOH); 2 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH)
Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 at SHIP 4-29 (NOH)
Townsend's Warbler 1 at Sharpe’s Park, Anacortes on 5-12 (NOH)
Wilson's Warbler 1 on Samish Island 5-2 (KR)
TANAGERS and ALLIES
Western Tanager 1 male at Anacortes yard 5-3 (JOC); 1 female in La Conner yard 5-3 (RWJ); 1 in Anacortes yard 5-8, 5-9 and 5-13 (YH)
Black-headed Grosbeak 1 at Bow home on 5-1 (KR); 2 at La Conner yard on 5-3 (RWJ); 5 at east Stanwood home on 5-4 (MS); 1 at Anacortes yard on 5-1 and 5-12 (YH); 1 at SWAWS on 5-9 (NOH); 1 at SHIP on 5-10 (NOH); 1 female at Anacortes yard 5-14 (JOC)
Lazuli Bunting 3 at NSRA on 5-11 (SAS)
MAMMALS
River Otter 1 in creek at east Stanwood home on 4-28 (MS)
Muskrat 1 at SWAWS on 5-12 (MS)
(GB) Gary Bletsch; (YH) Yvonne Houpermanns; (RWJ) Rosi & Wes Jansen; (JL) Jennifer Long; (TM) Tim Manns; (JOC) John O’Connell; (NOH) Neil O’Hara; (JO) Jeff Osmundson; (PP) Pam Pritzl; (KR) Kerry Rye; (MS) Mary Sinker; (JS) Jeff Sinker; (NSRA) Northern State Recreation Area; (SAS) Skagit Audubon Society Field Trip; (SHIP) Ship Harbor Interpretive Preserve; (SWAHR) Skagit Wildlife Area Hayton Reserve; (SWAWS) Skagit Wildlife Area Wylie Slough; (AT) Alice Turner; (AW) Andrea Warner