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.

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WATERFOWL

Brant 300 at SIPB on 11-22 (NOH)

Wood Duck 2 at SWAWS on 12-1 (GB)

Eurasian Wigeon 1 on Samish Flats on 12-16 (NOH) 

Canvasback 1 at Dugualla Bay on 11-29 (NOH)

Redhead 1 at Heart Lake on 12-8 (GB)

Black Scoter 1 at SIPB on 12-10 & 12-17 (GB)

Long-tailed Duck 2 at Swantown on 11-29 (NOH)

Common Goldeneye 5 at SIPB on 10-26 (GB) early

Red-breasted Merganser 1200 at SIPB on 11-17 (GB) high number

GREBES

Clark's Grebe 1 at SIPB on 12-10 (GB) RARE

RAILS and COOTS

Virginia Rail 2 on 11-21, 1 on 11-26, 1 on 12-5 & 1 on 12-14 at SWAWS (NOH)

PLOVERS 

Black-bellied Plover 17 at Swantown on 11-29, 8 on Samish Flats on 12-12 & 6 on Samish Flats on 12-16 (NOH)

SANDPIPERS and ALLIES

Long-billed Dowitcher 40 at SWAWS on 12-14 (NOH)

Wilson's Snipe 4 at SWAWS on 12-5 (NOH)

ALCIDS

Ancient Murrelet 3 at SIPB on 12-13 (GB)

GULLS and TERNS

Franklin's Gull 1 at FIFR on 10-22 (GB)

LOONS 

Yellow-billed Loon 1 at March Point on 11-8 (GB) RARE

HERONS and ALLIES

American Bittern 1 at Port Susan Bay TNC (restricted) (JO) 

Great Egret 1 at Swinomish Channel, La Conner on 11-15 (AM); 1 at Francis Rd, Mt. Vernon on 12-4 (RY); 1 north of Fir Island on 12-11 (JH); 1 west of Mt. Vernon 12/12-16 (DR); 1 on Rekdal Rd, Camano Island on 12-17 (PP)

HAWKS, EAGLES and ALLIES

Bald Eagle 2 on 11-22, 14 on 11-28 & 3 on 12-16 on Samish Flats (NOH); 1 “dilute” plumage on dike viewed from West 90, Samish Flats on 12-10 (AW)

Northern Harrier 6 on 11-22, 13 on 11-28, 11 on 12-11 & 4 on 12-16 on Samish Flats (NOH)

Cooper's Hawk 2 at east Stanwood home throughout sighting period (JS/MS)

Red-tailed Hawk 3 on 11-22, 4 on 11-28, 9 on 12-12 & 3 on 12-16 (NOH); 1 “Harlan’s” on dike viewed from Samish Is. Rd on 12-10 (AW) 

Rough-legged Hawk 3 at FIFR on 11-21; 4 on 11-22, 8 on 11-28 & 4 on 12-12 on Samish Flats, including 1 dark morph each day on Samish Flats (NOH); 1 juvenile dark morph at East 90 on 12-10 (AW)

OWLS

Great Horned Owl pair dueting at east Fidalgo home throughout sighting period (RW); 1 at SWAWS on 12-14 (NOH)

Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 in Bow yard on 10-22 (KR); 1 on Blanchard Mt on 12-4 (NOH)

Barred Owl 1 during week of 11-23 at Burlington home on 11-23 (LE)

Short-eared Owl 1 at Martin Rd on 11-21 (GB) RARE, upriver; 3 on 11-22, 6 on 11-28 & 6 on 12-12 on Samish Flats (NOH)

Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 heard at east Fidalgo home on 11-26 (RW)

WOODPECKERS

Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 at east Fidalgo home on 12-3 (RW)

Northern Flicker 1 hybrid at east Fidalgo home on 10-31 (RW)

FALCONS

American Kestrel 3 on 11-28, 1 on 12-12 & 1 on 12-16 on Samish Flats (NOH); 1 male & 1 female on Sullivan Rd, Samish Flats on 12-10 (AW)

Gyrfalcon 1 on 12-4 at Jensen Access (RP)

Merlin 1 at SWAWS on 12-5 (NOH); 1 at Leque Island/Eide Rd on 12-17 (PP)

Peregrine Falcon 1 on 11-26 & 1 on 12-14 at SWAWS (NOH); 1 adult on Church Rd, Samish Flats & 1 adult on T-Loop Rd on 12-10 (AW); 1 at Leque Island/Eide Rd on 12-18 (JO)

SHRIKES

Northern Shrike 1 at Leque Island/Eide Rd on 10-26 (PP); 1 at SWAWS on 11-26 (NOH)

CORVIDS

Canada Jay 3 at Casky Lake on 12-11 (GB)

California Scrub-Jay 1 during week of 11-23 at Burlington home (LE); 1 in Stanwood on 12-15 (JO)

BUSHTITS

Bushtit 50 on suet at east Fidalgo home on12-12 (RW)

THRUSHES

Townsend's Solitaire 1 at Martin Rd on 11-28 (GB)

Hermit Thrush 1 in Anacortes yard on 10-21 (JB); 1 at SWAWS on 11-21 (NOH); 2 at east Fidalgo home on 12-15 (RW)

Varied Thrush 2 at east Stanwood home on 12/10 & 12/12 (JS); 1 at SWAWS on   12-14 (NOH)

FINCHES and ALLIES

Evening Grosbeak 5 near Lake Cavanaugh on 12-2 (GB)

Red Crossbill 10 at east Fidalgo home on 11-7 (RW)

White-winged Crossbill 35 near Lake Cavanaugh on 12-2 (GB); 35 near Lake Cavanaugh on 12-4 (JO)

LONGSPURS and BUNTINGS

Snow Bunting 7 at FIFR on 10-24 (GB); 3 at Skyline on 11-13 (GB); 2 at Leque Island/Eide Rd on 12-13 & 12-17(PP)

SPARROWS and ALLIES

American Tree Sparrow 1 at SWAWS on 12-12 (GB)

Swamp Sparrow 1 at Lindgren Rd on 10-27 11-9 (GB)

White-throated Sparrow 1 at Pressentin Park on 10-25 (GB); 1 during week of 11-23 at Burlington home (LE)

Dark-eyed Junco 1 “slate-colored” on 10-21 at east Fidalgo home on 10-21 (RW); 1 “leucistic” at Cap Sante home, Anacortes from 10/22-25 (JH)

BLACKBIRDS and ORIOLES

Western Meadowlark 4 on Samish Flats on 11-28 (NOH)

Rusty Blackbird 1 at the West 90, Samish Flats on 11-5 (GB)

WARBLERS

Northern Waterthrush 1 at SWAWS on 12-12 (GB)

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 at March Point on 12-4 (GB)

MAMMALS

Beaver observing family of 3 near Burlington throughout sighting period (JKW)

Coyote heard often and occasionally seen at east Fidalgo home throughout sighting period (RW)

Humpback Whale 1 off Rosario Head on 12-16 (GB)

Red Fox observed in Cap Sante, Anacortes neighborhood throughout sighting period (JH)

 

(GB) Gary Bletsch; (JB) Jane Brandt; (LE) Larry Edwards; (FIFR) Fir Island Farm Reserve aka Hayton Reserve; (JH) Joe Halton; (AM) Ann McFeely; (NOH) Neil O’Hara; (JO) Jeff Osmundson; (PP) Pam Pritzl; (DR) Dan Reese; (KR) Kerry Rye; (SIPB) Samish Island Public Beach; (JS) Jeff Sinker; (MS) Mary Sinker; (SWAWS) Skagit Wildlife Area Wylie Slough; (AW) Andrea Warner; (RW) Regan Weeks; (JKW) J & K Wiggers; (RY) Roland Yerba; (RP) Ron Pera