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
Snow Goose 500 in field next to Big Ditch on 5-1 (PP) late
Wood Duck 2 at ACFL on 4-16 & 2 at SWAWS on 4-21 (YH)
Cinnamon Teal 4 at SWAWS on 4-20 (YH)
Harlequin Duck 4 at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-23 & 2 on 5-3; 2 at Rosario Beach on 5-4 (YH)
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS
California Quail 1 at SHIP on 4-17, 4-20, 4-27 & 5-8; 1 at Rosario on 4-29 (NOH)
Sooty Grouse 1 on Sourdough Mtn on 4-21 (NOH)
Wild Turkey 4 on Samish Flats on 4-30 (YH)
PIGEONS and DOVES
Band-tailed Pigeon 12 daily (average #) at east Stanwood home since 4-20 (MS/JS)
Eurasian Collared-Dove 4 at east Stanwood home 5-8 to present (MS/JS)
Mourning Dove 8 daily (average #) at east Stanwood home (year-round) (MS/JS)
RAILS and COOTS
Virginia Rail 2 at FIFR on 5-10 (MS/JS)
CRANES
Common Crane 1 on Samish Flats on 4-27 & 4-28 (YH); 1 on Samish Flats on 4-28 (RW) RARE
OYSTERCATCHERS
Black Oystercatcher 2 at WA Park on 4-23 & 6 at Rosario Beach on 5-4 (YH)
PLOVERS
Semipalmated Plover 1 at SWAWS on 4-19 & 1 at FIFR on 5-7 (NOH); 8 at FIFR on 5-4 (GB)
SANDPIPERS and ALLIES
Whimbrel 2-300 in Camano Island farm field (Rekdal Rd) 4-23 to 5-14 (PP); 7 at Jensen Access, Fir Island on 5-7 (GB)
Black Turnstone 3 at Rosario on 4-29 (NOH)
Ruff 1 at SWAWS on 4-20 & 4-22 (YH) RARE
Least Sandpiper 10 at SHIP on 4-27 & 20 at SHIP on 4-30 (NOH)
Pectoral Sandpiper 3 on Samish Flats on 5-9 (GB) rare in spring
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 on Samish Flats on 5-9 (GB) rare in spring
Western Sandpiper 20 at SWAWS on 4-19, 3 at SHIP on 4-30 & 200 at FIFR on 5-7 (NOH)
Wilson's Phalarope 1 at Leque Island/Eide Rd on 5-10 (PP)
ALCIDS
Common Murre 1 at Rosario on 4-14 (NOH)
Marbled Murrelet 2 at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-17 & 4-23 (YH)
Rhinoceros Auklet 1 at Rosario on 4-14 (NOH); 2 at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-17 & 4-23 (YH)
GULLS and TERNS
Bonaparte's Gull 1 at SHIP on 4-12 & 4-30 (NOH)
Franklin's Gull 2 on Fir Island on 5-7 (GB)
California Gull 1 at SHIP on 5-8 (NOH)
HERONS & ALLIES
American Bittern 5 at Hansen Creek on 4-19 (PP)
VULTURES
Turkey Vulture 2 at Rosario on 4-14, 1 at Cranberry Lake, ACFL on 4-25, 1 at SHIP on 4-27 & 1 at Tursi Trail DPSP on 5-9 (NOH)
OSPREYS
Osprey 1 at SHIP on 4-23 (YH)
OWLS
Great Horned Owl 3 at SWAWS on 4-19 & 2 at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-26 (NOH); 4 (2 adults, 2 young at nest site) at SWAWS on 5-1 & 2 adults at SWAWS on 5-8 (MS/JS).
Barred Owl 1 at Cranberry Lake, ACFL on 4-25 & 1 on Tursi Trail DPSP on 5-9 (NOH); 1 at Camano Island State Park, Emerson Nature Trail on 5-11 (JS)
Short-eared Owl 1 at FIFR on 5-7 (NOH) late
WOODPECKERS
Acorn Woodpecker 1 at feeder near Concrete 5-7 to 5-9 (GB) RARE
FALCONS
Peregrine Falcon 1 at FIFR on 5-11 (YH)
FLYCATCHERS
Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 5-6 (RW); 1 at Camano Island yard on 5-14 (PP)
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 4 on Tursi Trail DPSP on 5-9 (NOH)
Eastern Kingbird 3 on Martin Rd on 5-8 (GB)
VIREOS
Cassin's Vireo 2 at Barnaby Slough on 5-6 (GB)
Warbling Vireo 1 at Camano Island yard on 5-15 (PP)
SWALLOWS
Purple Martin 20 at SHIP on 5-8 (NOH)
WRENS
Bewick's Wren 2 at east Stanwood home daily throughout sighting period (MS/JS)
THRUSHES
Mountain Bluebird 1 on Martin Rd on 5-8 (GB) late
Swainson's Thrush 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 4-26 (RW); 1 on Tursi Trail DPSP on 5-9 (NOH)
FINCHES and ALLIES
Evening Grosbeak 8 at east Stanwood yard throughout sighting period (MS/JS)
Cassin's Finch 1 at feeder near Concrete on 5-8 (GB)
Red Crossbill 2 at Camano Island yard week of 4-26 (PP); 1 at Rosario on 4-29 (NOH)
LONGSPURS and BUNTINGS
Lapland Longspur 1 at March Point on 5-4 (GB) rare in spring
SPARROWS and ALLIES
Chipping Sparrow 1 at Cap Sante yard on 5-13 (JH)
Vesper Sparrow 1 at Corkindale on 5-8 (GB)
White-throated Sparrow 1 at Camano Island yard on 5-4 (SRP); 1 at Everett Lake on 5-8 (GB) late
Golden-crowned Sparrow 6 at Camano Island yard on 5-5 (SRP)
WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 4-21 (RW)
Nashville Warbler 1 at Marblemount ranger station on 5-6 (GB)
Common Yellowthroat 1 at SWAWS on 4-19 & 5-7 & 1 at SHIP on 5-8 (NOH)
Yellow Warbler 1 at SHIP on 5-6 & 5-8, 2 at SWAWS on 5-7 & 1 on Tursi Trail DPSP on 5-9 (NOH); 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 5-11 (RW); 3 at SWAWS on 5-11 (YH)
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 4-21 (RW)
Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 at Thunder Creek on 4-28 & 1 on Tursi Trail DPSP on 5-9 (NOH)
Townsend's Warbler 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 4-21 (RW)
Wilson's Warbler 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 4-21 (RW); 1 at Cranberry Lake ACFL on 5-2, 1 at SHIP on 5-8 & 1 on Tursi Trail DPSP on 5-9 (NOH)
TANAGERS and ALLIES
Western Tanager 1 at east Stanwood yard on 5-11 (MS/JS); 1 male at Camano Island yard on 5-12 (SRP)
Black-headed Grosbeak 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 5-3 (RW); 1 male at Camano Island yard on 5-12 (SRP); 7 (first arrival 5-8) daily at east Stanwood yard (MS/JS)
MAMMALS
Long-tailed Weasel 1 at SWAWS on 5-8 & 2 at FIFR on 5-10 (MS/JS)
Muskrat 1 at SWAWS on 4-20 (YH)
(ACFL) Anacortes Community Forest Lands; (GB) Gary Bletsch; (DPSP) Deception Pass State Park; (FIFR) Fir Island Farm Reserve aka Hayton Reserve; (JH) Joe Halton; (NOH); Neil O’Hara; (YH) Yvonne Houppermans; ; (SHIP) Ship Harbor Interpretive Preserve; (SRP) Sheila and Ron Pera; (PP) Pam Pritzl; (JS) Jeff Sinker; (MS) Mary Sinker; (SWAWS) Skagit Wildlife Area Wylie Slough; (RW) Regan Weeks