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 5 at SWAHR on 3-10 (GB); 6 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH)
Cackling Goose 2 at SWAWS on 2-21 (NOH); 1 at SWAWS on 3-8 (NOH)
Wood Duck 2 at Lafayette Road on 1-18 & 1-23, 4 on 2-6 (GB)
Northern Shoveler 1 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH)
Eurasian Wigeon 1 at East 90, Samish Flats on 2-26 (YH); 1 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH); 1 at Bay View-Edison Road on 3-19 (YH)
Green-winged Teal 1 intergrade w/ Eurasian Green-winged Teal at Padilla Bay Dike Trail on 2-25 (YH)
Greater Scaup 1 at SWAHR on 2-21 (NOH); 1 at SWAWS on 3-8 (NOH); 4 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH)
Barrow's Goldeneye 3 near Marblemount on 1-26 (YH)
Hooded Merganser 3 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH)
Common Merganser 1 at SWAWS on 3-8 (NOH)
Red-breasted Merganser 1 at SWAHR on 2-21 (NOH); 1 at SWAWS on 2-21 (NOH)
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS
California Quail 4 at east Fidalgo home on 3-19 (RW)
Ring-necked Pheasant 1 on Bay View-Edison Road on 1-24 (YH)
GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe 1 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH); 1 at SWAWS on 3-18 & 3-19 (YH)
Horned Grebe 1 at SHIP on 3-12 (NOH)
Red-necked Grebe 1 at SHIP on 3-12 (NOH)
Eared Grebe 1 at March Point on 2-16, 2-19 & 3-8 (GB)
HUMMINGBIRDS
Rufous Hummingbird 1 male (flew through) at east Fidalgo home on 2-20 (RW); 1 male (resident) at east Fidalgo home on 2-27 (RW); 1 male on 3-4 and 1 female on 3-5 at Cap Sante, Anacortes home (JH); 1 at SHIP on 3-12 (NOH)
RAILS and COOTS
American Coot 2 at SWAWS on 3-8 (NOH)
OYSTERCATCHERS
Black Oystercatcher 2 at SHIP on 3-12 (NOH)
PLOVERS
Black-bellied Plover 45 at SWAHR on 2-21 (NOH); 45 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH)
Pacific Golden-Plover 1 at SWAHR on 3-8 (GB)
SANDPIPERS and ALLIES
Black Turnstone 5 at March Point on 1-20 (JH)
Surfbird 6 at Rosario Head on 2-23 (GB)
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 at SWAWS on 2-21, 2-25 & 3-14 (GB) RARE IN WINTER
LOONS
Common Loon 1 at SHIP on 3-12 (NOH)
VULTURES
Turkey Vulture 1 in Port Townsend on 3-5 (RW & others); 1 at east Stanwood home on 3-7 (MS); 1 seen at east Fidalgo home on 3-14 (RW)
HAWKS, EAGLES and ALLIES
Bald Eagle 12 at SWAWS on 2-19 (NOH); 9 at SWAHR on 2-21 (NOH); 2 at SWAWS on 2-21 (NOH); 3 at SWAHR on 3-8 (NOH); 3 at SWAWS on 3-8 (NOH); 2 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH
Northern Harrier 4 at SWAHR on 2-21 (NOH); 3 at SWAHR on 3-8 (NOH); 3 at SWAWS on 3-8 (NOH); 2 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH)
Cooper's Hawk 1 at Field Road on 2-3 (YH); 1 at SWAWS on 2-19 (NOH); 1 at east Stanwood home on 3-15 (MS); 1 at east Fidalgo home on 3-18 (RW)
Red-tailed Hawk 1 near Viva Farms, Highway 20 on 2-21 (TK); 1 at SWAHR on 2-21 (NOH); 1 at SWAHR on 3-8 (NOH); 3 at SWAWS on 3-8 (NOH); 1 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH)
Golden Eagle 1 at Josh Wilson/Avon Allen Road on 1-19, 1-30 & 3-10 (GB); 1 at Josh Wilson Road on 1-30, 2-10 & 2-14 (YH) RARE IN WINTER
OWLS
Great Horned Owl pair hooting at Bay View State Park on 3-19 (JS)
Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 at Everett Lake on 1-25 (GB)
Short-eared Owl 1 at the East 90, Samish Flats on 2-3 and 2-26 (YH); 7 at the East 90, Samish Flats on 3-9 (MS/JS); 4 at the East 90, Samish Flats on 3-14 (MS/JS)
Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 at Harry Osborne State Forest on 2-22 (GB); heard at east Fidalgo home on 2-28 (RW)
WOODPECKERS
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 at east Fidalgo home on 3-17 (RW); 1 at east Stanwood home on 3-18 (JS)
Downy Woodpecker 1 at Anacortes home on 3-10 (TK)
Hairy Woodpecker 1 at Anacortes home on 3-10 (TK)
FALCONS
American Kestrel 1 at SWAWS on 2-21 (NOH)
Merlin 1 at SWAHR on 2-21 (NOH); 1 at Cap Sante, Anacortes yard on 3-16 (JH)
Gyrfalcon 1 at SWAHR on 2-4 & 2-21 (GB); 1 at Moore Road on 2-17 (GB)
Peregrine Falcon 1 on Fir Island on 2-2 (YH); 1 at SWAHR on 3-10 (NOH)
Prairie Falcon 1 on Samish Flats on 1-27 (GB)
FLYCATCHERS
Black Phoebe 1 at SWAWS on 2-19 & 3-8 (NOH); 1 at SWAWS on 3-8 (MS)
CORVIDS
California Scrub-Jay 1 at Gear Road on 2-11 (GB)
SWALLOWS
Tree Swallow 1 at SWAWS on 2-25 (GB)
Violet-green Swallow 7 at Lake Campbell on 2-23 (GB)
Barn Swallow 6 on Samish Flats on 1-26 (GB)
CHICKADEES
Mountain Chickadee 1 at Anacortes home on 2-24 (TK)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1 at Anacortes home on 2-28 (TK)
WRENS
Marsh Wren 4 at SWAHR on 3-16 (JS); 1 at SWAWS on 3-19 (YH)
Bewick's Wren 1 in Anacortes yard on 1-27 (YH); 1 at SWAWS on 2-19 & 3-8 (NOH); 1 at SHIP on 3-12 (NOH)
DIPPERS
American Dipper 2 near Marblemount on 1-26 (YH)
THRUSHES
Hermit Thrush 1 bathing at east Fidalgo yard on 3-19 (RW)
Varied Thrush 1 at Anacortes home on 2-25 (TK); 1 at east Fidalgo home on 3-19 (RW)
FINCHES and ALLIES
Pine Siskin 9 at Anacortes home on 3-15 (TK)
SPARROWS and ALLIES
Savannah Sparrow 2 at Bay View-Edison Road on 1-24 (YH)
Fox Sparrow 1 at east Fidalgo home on 3-19 (RW)
Swamp Sparrow 1 at Clear Lake Boat Launch on 1-29 & 2-17 (GB)
White-throated Sparrow 1 at DeBay Slough on 1-29 & 2-12 (GB)
BLACKBIRDS and ORIOLES
Brown-headed Cowbird 1 on Minkler Flats on 1-14 (GB)
WARBLERS
Northern Waterthrush 1 at SWAWS on 2-26 (JH)
MAMMALS
Beaver 1 at SWAWS on 2-9 (JB)
Coyote 1 observed (hear them often) at east Fidalgo home on 3-3 (RW)
(GB) Gary Bletsch; (JB) Joan Bird; (JH) Joe Halton; (NOH) Neil O’Hara; (YH) Yvonne Houppermans; (TK) Trevor Kyle; (JS) Jeff Sinker; (MS) Mary Sinker; (SHIP) Ship Harbor Interpretive Preserve; (SWAHR) Skagit Wildlife Area Hayton Reserve; (SWAWS) Skagit Wildlife Area Wylie Slough; (RW) Regan Weeks