Field Sightings

Details

Last Updated: July 13, 2022

Compiled 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 birdsightings@skagitaudubon.org. For recent updates on bird sightings, check out ABA Tweeters and Skagit County Ebird List on the SAS website (Birding menu, Bird Sightings submenu).

WATERFOWL

Snow Goose 300 on Bayview-Edison Rd near T on 5-6 (AW*/JB*)

Greater White-fronted Goose 39 on Fir Island on 4-28 (YH) 

Harlequin Duck 6 at Rosario on 4-14 (NOH)

Long-tailed Duck 2 at SHIP on 4-29 (NOH)

PIGEONS and DOVES

Band-tailed Pigeon 28 at east Stanwood yard throughout sighting period (MS/JS)

Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 at east Stanwood yard throughout sighting period (MS/JS)

Mourning Dove 14 at east Stanwood yard throughout sighting period (MS/JS)

RAILS and COOTS

Virginia Rail 1 heard at SHIP on 4-23 (SAS); 1-2 seen/heard regularly at SHIP during sighting period (NOH)

PLOVERS 

Black-bellied Plover 53 at FIFR on 4-17 (NOH)

SANDPIPERS and ALLIES

Whimbrel 100 on Whidbey Island on 4-24 (YH);  300 on Rekdal Rd farm field, Camano Island on 5-7 (SAS)

Sanderling 2 at March Point on 4-27 (GB)

Pectoral Sandpiper 1 at FIFR on 4-30 (GB) rare in spring

Short-billed Dowitcher 1 at SWAWS on 4-23 (GB)

Long-billed Dowitcher 3 at SWAWS on 4-21 (NOH)

Wilson's Snipe 1 at SWAWS on 4-21 (NOH)

ALCIDS

Marbled Murrelet 4 at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-23 (SAS)

Rhinoceros Auklet 70 at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-15 (YH); 10 at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-23 (SAS)

GULLS and TERNS

Bonaparte's Gull 30 at SHIP on 4-23 (SAS)

Caspian Tern 5 on Whidbey Island on 4-24 & 13 at FIFR on 4-28 (YH); 30 at Iverson Spit, Camano Island on 5-7 (SAS)

LOONS 

Pacific Loon 1 at Green Point, WA Park, Anacortes on 5-7 (GB)

CORMORANTS

Brandt's Cormorant 30 at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-23 (SAS)

VULTURES

Turkey Vulture 1 at east Stanwood yard on 5-9 (MS/JS) 

OSPREYS

Osprey 1 at SHIP on 4-16 and seen regularly throughout sighting period (NOH); 1 on Fidalgo Island on 4-21 (YH)

HAWKS, EAGLES and ALLIES

Red-tailed Hawk 1 blue-winged tagged “E-3” at Padilla Bay loop trail on 5-6 (AW*/JB*)

OWLS

Barred Owl 1 at Cranberry Lake, ACFL on 4-28 (NOH); 1 at English Boom, Camano Island on 5-7 (SAS)

WOODPECKERS

Lewis's Woodpecker 1 at SWAWS on 5-7 (GB) rare,

Pileated Woodpecker 1 at ACFL on 4-26 (YH)

FALCONS

American Kestrel 1 at Padilla Bay loop trail on 5-6 (AW*/JB*)

Peregrine Falcon 3 at FIFR on 4-17 (NOH)

FLYCATCHERS

Olive-sided Flycatcher  1 at east Fidalgo yard on 5-1 (RW); 1 at Padilla Bay loop trail on 5-6 (AW*/JB*)

Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 4-16 (RW); 2 at Cranberry Lake, ACFL on 4-28 (NOH);  1 at Padilla Bay loop trail on 5-6 (AW*/JB*)

Black Phoebe 2 at SWAWS on 4-22 (MS/JS)

Western Kingbird 1 at Corkindale on 5-6 (GB)

VIREOS

Hutton's Vireo 1 on nest at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-23 (SAS)

Cassin's Vireo 1 at Padilla Loop Trail on 5-6 (AW*/JB*); 1 at Cap Sante yard, Anacortes on 5-8 (JH)

Warbling Vireo 1 at Anacortes yard on 5-9 (YH)

SWALLOWS

Purple Martin 9 at SHIP on 4-23 (SAS); 3 at English Boom, Camano Island on 5-7 (SAS)

NUTHATCHES 

Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 at east Stanwood yard daily throughout sighting period (MS/JS)

WRENS

House Wren 1 at Padilla Bay loop trail on 5-6 (AW*/JB*)

THRUSHES

Townsend's Solitaire 1 at NSRA on 4-17 & 1 on Lincoln Hill, Mount Vernon on 5-6 (TRM); 4 at Cascade River on 5-6 (GB)

Hermit Thrush 1 at Cranberry Lake, ACFL on 4-28 (NOH); 1 at SHIP on 4-30 (GB)

FINCHES and ALLIES

American Goldfinch 5 at east Stanwood yard on 5-4 (MS)

SPARROWS and ALLIES

Chipping Sparrow 1 at WA Park, Anacortes on 4-23 (TRM)

Vesper Sparrow 1 at SWAWS on 5-7 (GB)

White-throated Sparrow 1 in Cap Sante, Anacortes yard on 5-7 (JH)

BLACKBIRDS and ORIOLES

Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 on Rekdal Rd farm field, Camano Island on 5-7 (SAS); 7 at Burmaster Rd on 5-7 (GB)

WARBLERS

MacGillivray's Warbler 1 at Cap Sante, Anacortes yard on 5-8 (JH)

Yellow Warbler on nest at SWAWS on 5-10 (PP)

Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 “Audubon’s” & 1 “Myrtle” at NSRA on 4-17 (TRM); 2 at SWAWS on 4-22 (MS/JS)

Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 at Padilla Bay loop trail on 5-6 (AW*/JB*)

Townsend's Warbler 2 at Heart Lake, ACFL on 4-26 & 1 at Cranberry Lake, ACFL on 4-28 (NOH); 1 at Padilla Bay loop trail on 5-6 (AW*/JB*)

Wilson's Warbler 1 at Padilla Bay loop trail on 5-6 (AW*/JB*); 1 at east Stanwood yard on 5-10 (MS)

TANAGERS and ALLIES

Western Tanager 1 at Stanwood yard on 5-7 (AK); 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 5-8 (RW)

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 at east Fidalgo yard on 4-30 (RW); 1 at Anacortes yard on 5-5 (YH); 1 male at Cap Sante, Anacortes yard on 5-9 (JH); 5 at east Stanwood yard on 5-9 (MS)

MAMMALS

Northern Elephant Seal 1 at Bowman Bay on 4-21 (YH)

Weasel 1 at east Fidalgo yard wrestling a rabbit (weasel won) (RW)

(ACFL) Anacortes Community Forest Lands; (GB) Gary Bletsch; (JB*) Jane Brandt (observed on trip led by Libby Mills); (FIFR) Fir Island Farm Reserve aka Hayton Reserve; (JH) Joe Halton; (YH) Yvonne Houppermans; (NSRA) Northern State Recreation Area); (AK) Ann Kramer; (TRM) Tim Manns; (NOH); Neil O’Hara; (PP) Pam Pritzl; (SHIP) Ship Harbor Interpretive Preserve; (JS) Jeff Sinker; (MS) Mary Sinker; (SAS) Skagit Audubon Society Field Trip; (SWAWS) Skagit Wildlife Area Wylie Slough; (AW)* Andrea Warner (observed on trip led by Libby Mills); (RW)Regan Weeks