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
Greater White-fronted Goose 25 flying over Samish Island on 9-3 (PP); 1 near Cockreham Island on 8-30 (GB)
Wood Duck 2 at SWAWS on 8-18 and 1 at SWAWS on 8-22 (NOH)
Cinnamon Teal 6 at Channel Drive on 8-18 and 6 at SWAWS on 8-22 (NOH)
Northern Shoveler 1 at SWAWS on 8-18, 5 at SWAWS on 8-22 and 2 at Channel Drive on 8-18 (NOH)
American Wigeon 1 at SWAHR on 8-24 (NOH)
Hooded Merganser 6 at SWAHR on 8-16, 4 at SWAWS on 8-18 and 5 at SWAHR on 8-24 (NOH)
GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe 1 at SWAWS on 8-22 (NOH)
Red-necked Grebe 1 in Burrows Bay, Anacortes on 9-10 (NOH)
Eared Grebe 2 at Samish Island Public Beach on 9-3 (GB)
PIGEONS and DOVES
Band-tailed Pigeon 10 at SWAWS on 9-8 (SAS)
SWIFTS
Black Swift 8 at Illabot Creek Alluvial Fan on 9-11 (GB)
HUMMINGBIRDS
Rufous Hummingbird 1 immature at Cap Sante, Anacortes yard on 9-3 (JH)
RAILS
Virginia Rail 1 at SWAWS on 8-22 (NOH)
PLOVERS
Black-bellied Plover 29 at SWAHR on 8-16 and 56 at SWAHR on 8-18 (NOH); 10 at SWAHR on 9-8 (SAS)
Pacific Golden-Plover 1 at SWAHR on 8-16 (NOH)
Semipalmated Plover 45 at SWAHR on 8-16, 30 at SWAHR on 8-18 and 12 at SWAHR on 8-24 (NOH)
SANDPIPERS and ALLIES
Hudsonian Godwit 2 at SWAHR on 8-10 (GB) RARE
Ruddy Turnstone 1 at the West 90, Samish Island on 8-7 (GB) RARE
Red Knot 18 at SWAHR on 8-31 (GB) high count; 3 at SWAHR on 9-8 (SAS)
Stilt Sandpiper 1 at Channel Drive on 8-15 (GB); 1 at SWAWS on 8-27 (PP)
Sanderling 1 on Alice Bay, Samish Island on 8-26 (GB)
Baird's Sandpiper 2 at the West 90, Samish Island on 8-7 (GB)
Least Sandpiper 12 at SWAWS on 8-18, 7 at Channel Drive on 8-18 and 2 at SWAWS on 8-22 (NOH); 2 at SWAHR on 9-8 (SAS)
Pectoral Sandpiper 8 at SWAWS on 9-8 (SAS)
Western Sandpiper 100 at SWAHR on 9-8 (SAS)
Short-billed Dowitcher 18 at SWAWS on 9-8 (SAS)
Wilson's Snipe 9 at SWAWS on 9-8 (SAS)
Spotted Sandpiper 1 at SWAHR on 8-24 (NOH); 1 at SWAHR on 9-8 (SAS)
Solitary Sandpiper 1 at Nichol’s Bar on 8-5 (GB)
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 at SWAHR on 9-8 and 35 at SWAWS on 9-8 (SAS)
Willet 1 at SWAHR on 8-10 (GB) RARE
Greater Yellowlegs 2 at SWAHR and 5 at SWAWS on 9-8 (SAS)
Red-necked Phalarope 1 at SWAHR on 8-10 (GB)
JAEGERS
Parasitic Jaeger 2 at Samish Island Public Beach on 9-11 (GB)
GULLS and TERNS
Franklin's Gull 3 at SWAHR on 8-11 (GB); 1 at SWAHR on 8-18 (NOH)
Caspian Tern 30 observed from the Tommy Thompson Trail, Anacortes on 8-14 (MC); 40 at SWAHR on 9-8 (SAS)
PELICANS
American White Pelican 30 at Deer Lagoon, Whidbey Island and 14 at Crockett Lake, Whidbey Island on 8-11 (RWJ)
VULTURES
Turkey Vulture 1 at SWAWS on 8-18 (NOH)
HAWKS, EAGLES and ALLIES
Northern Harrier 1 at SWAHR on 8-16, 1 at SWAHR on 8-18 and 1 at SWAHR on 8-22 (NOH)
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 at SWAWS on 8-22 (NOH)
Cooper's Hawk hanging around first half of August at east Fidalgo, Anacortes yard (RW)
OWLS
Great Horned Owl heard young owls begging at east Fidalgo yard on 8-16 (RW); 2 juveniles at La Conner yard on 8-31 (RWJ)
WOODPECKERS
Hairy Woodpecker 1 at Anacortes yard on 9-9 (TK)
Northern Flicker 1 “red-shafted” at Anacortes yard on 9-10 (TK)
FALCONS
Peregrine Falcon 2 at SWAHR on 8-18 and 1 at Channel Drive on 8-18 (NOH); 1 at SWAWS on 9-8 (SAS)
FLYCATCHERS
Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 at SWAWS on 8-22 (NOH)
Willow Flycatcher 1 at SWAWS on 8-18 and 2 at Channel Drive on 8-18 (NOH)
Black Phoebe 3 at SWAWS and 1 at SWAWS on 8-22 (NOH)
VIREOS
Warbling Vireo 1 at Cap Sante, Anacortes yard on 9-4 (JH)
CORVIDS
Clark's Nutcracker 2 at Easy Pass on 8-12 (GB)
SWALLOWS
Purple Martin several flying around east Fidalgo, Anacortes yard week of 8-18 (RW)
CHICKADEES
Mountain Chickadee 4 at Easy Pass on 8-12 (GB)
CREEPERS
Brown Creeper 2 at La Conner yard on 8-11 (RWJ)
DIPPERS
American Dipper 1 at Bagley Creek, Mt. Baker on 9-4 (YH)
KINGLETS
Golden-crowned Kinglet first of season at east Fidalgo, Anacortes home on 9-7 (RW)
FINCHES and ALLIES
Pine Siskin 12 at Anacortes yard on 9-9 (TK)
SPARROWS and ALLIES
Clay-colored Sparrow 1 near Cockreham Island on 9-6 (GB) RARE
Vesper Sparrow 1 at Illabot Creek Alluvial Fan on 9-2 (GB)
Fox Sparrow first of season on 9-4 at east Fidalgo, Anacortes yard on 9-4 (RW)
Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 at the West 90 on 9-3 (GB) early; first of season at east Fidalgo yard on 9-5 (RW) early
BLACKBIRDS and ORIOLES
Yellow-headed Blackbird 17 at SWAHR on 8-19 (GB) high count
WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler 3 at east Fidalgo, Anacortes yard on 8-16 (RW)
MacGillivray's Warbler 1 at east Fidalgo, Anacortes yard on 8-16 (RW)
Common Yellowthroat 1 at SWAWS on 8-22 (NOH)
Yellow Warbler 1 at Channel Drive on 8-18 (NOH); 1 at east Fidalgo, Anacortes yard on 8-18 (RW); 2 at La Conner yard on 8-19 (RWJ); 1 at Cap Sante, Anacortes yard on 8-22 (JH)
BLACKPOLL WARBLER 1 at Burlington home on 8-25 (JKW) RARE
Yellow-rumped Warbler juvenile “Myrtle” at Cap Sante, Anacortes yard on 8-23 (JH)
Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 at east Fidalgo, Anacortes yard on 8-1 (RW); 1 at east Stanwood yard on 9-10 (MS); 1 female at Cap Sante yard, Anacortes on 9-11 (JH)
Townsend's Warbler 1 male at Camano Island yard on 8-24 (PP); 1 at east Fidalgo, Anacortes yard on 8-27 (RW)
Wilson's Warbler 1 at east Fidalgo, Anacortes yard on 8-29 (RW); 1 at La Conner yard on 9-5 (RWJ)
MAMMALS
River Otter 3 observed from the Tommy Thompson Trail, Anacortes on 8-14 (MC)
(GB) Gary Bletsch; (MC) Morty Cohen; (JH) Joe Halton; (YH) Yvonne Houppermans; (RWJ) Rosi & Wes Jansen; (TK) Trevor Kyle; (NOH); Neil O’Hara; (PP) Pam Pritzl; (MS) Mary Sinker; (SAS) Skagit Audubon Society Field Trip; (SWAHR) Skagit Wildlife Area Hayton Reserve; (SWAWS) Skagit Wildlife Area Wylie Slough; (RW) Regan Weeks; (JKW) Jan & Keith Wiggers