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 3 just south of Bay View on 2-2 (RK)
FALCATED DUCK 1 on Padilla Bay on 1-16 (GB) RARE
Eurasian/American Wigeon hybrid 2 on Samish Flats on 1-23 (NOH)
Cinnamon Teal 1 at Lindgren Road on 1-1 (GB)
Canvasback 1 on Beaver Lake on 2-4 (GB)
LOONS
Red-throated Loon 2-300 in channel between West Beach and Rosario Head on 2-11 (PP)
Yellow-billed Loon 1 at Rosario Head on 1-18 (JO); 1 at Rosario Beach on 1-19 (RK); 1 at Rosario Head on 1-21 & 1-28 (GB) UNUSUAL
GREBES
Eared Grebe 1 at Bowman Bay on 2-13 (RK); 1 at Rosario Head on 1-28 & 2-11 (GB)
Horned Grebe 1 at Ship Harbor, Anacortes on 2-16 (JB)
HERONS and ALLIES
American Bittern 1 at Port Susan Bay Nature Conservancy on 2-4 (SAS); 1 in Hamilton on 2-5 & 2-12 (GB)
HAWKS, EAGLES, and ALLIES
Cooper's Hawk 1 adult south of Bay View on Bay View/Edison Road on 2-5 (AW)
Red-tailed Hawk 1 “light morph “Harlan’s” on Sullivan Road on 1-29 (AW); 1“Harlan’s” at Pulver & Chuckanut Ridge Road on 2-4 (AW); 1 “Harlan’s” juvenile at North 90 in Samish Flats on 2-5 (AW); 1 “Harlan’s” juvenile at East 90 on 2-11 (NOH)
Rough-legged Hawk 1 juvenile “dark morph” at Skagit Airport on 2-11 (AW); 1 “light morph” adult male on Sunset Road on 2-12 (AW)
Golden Eagle 1 at Port Susan Bay Nature Conservancy on 2-4 (SAS)
OYSTERCATHERS
Black Oystercatcher 40 on rocks at West Beach, Deception Pass State Park on 2-14 (PP)
SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES, and ALLIES
Surfbird flock of up to 8 at Rosario Head intermittently throughout sighting period (GB)
Sanderling 8 on rocks at West Beach, Deception Pass State Park on 2-11 (PP)
Rock Sandpiper 1 at Rosario Head intermittently throughout the sighting period (GB)
Western Sandpiper 25 at March Point on 2-6 (GB)
Long-billed Dowitcher 3 on Samish Flats on 1-30 (NOH)
Wilson's Snipe several present in Bay View meadow on 12-17 (LM); 1 at Rawlins Road on 1-7 and 1 on Samish Flats on 2-2 (NOH)
GULLS and TERNS
Herring Gull 1 on Minkler Flats on 2-11 (GB)
Thayer's Gull 1 in Burlington on 1-22 (GB)
OWLS
Northern Pygmy-Owl 1 at Rasar State Park on 2-5 (GB)
Barred Owl 1 on logs at Guemes Channel beach on 1-22 (NOH)
WOODPECKERS
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 at Cap Sante, Anacortes on 12-10 (JH); 1 at east Fidalgo Island home since 12-10 (RW)
FALCONS
American Kestrel 2 females on Peterson Road on 2-11 (AW)
Merlin 1 at North Fork Skagit River Access on 1-25 (RK); 1 each on Colony Road, Blanchard and Edison on 2-5 (AW); 1 “black” in Edison on 2-12 (AW)
Peregrine Falcon 1 on Samish Flats on 2-2 & 2 on Samish Flats on 2-4 (NOH); 2 adults in West 90 area on 2-4 (AW); 1 adult on Bay View/Edison north of SR 20 on 2-5 (AW)
Prairie Falcon 1 on Sunset Road on 2-5 (AW)
Gyrfalcon 1 at south end of Padilla Bay Trail on 2-18 (SAS)
SHRIKES
Northern Shrike 1 at Rawlins Road on 12-10 (NOH); 1 at North Fork Skagit River Access on 1-25 (RK); 1 at Ship Harbor, Anacortes on 2-16 (JB)
BISHTITS
Bushtit flock coming to suet feeder at home on Camano Island 2-3 to present (SRP)
DIPPERS
American Dipper 1 at Nooksack River Bridge on 1-13 (NOH); 1 at Marblemount Fish Hatchery on 1-21 (RK)
THRUSHES
Mountain Bluebird 1 in area south of Cedardale and east of Conway on 1-2 (GB); 1 found on 1-1 (KR)
Townsend's Solitaire 1 in Mount Vernon yard from 12-17 to 1-8 (JS); 1 at Martin Road on 1-8 (GB)
WAXWINGS
Bohemian Waxwing 92 at Skagit Wildlife Management Area (Wylie Slough) on 12-22 & 17 at Hayton Reserve on 1-1 (GB); 1 on Person’s Road east of Bay View cemetery on 1-12 (JH)
WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler 1 in Burlington yard on 2-7 (LE)
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 “Audubon” immature in Burlington yard on 1-13 (LE)
SPARROWS and ALLIES
American Tree Sparrow 1 at Lindgren Road on 1-16 and 2-4 (GB)
Savannah Sparrow 1 on Samish Flats on 2-11 (NOH)
Swamp Sparrow 1 at SR 20 milepost 76 fields on
1-8 & 1 in Hamilton on 2-5 (GB)
White-throated Sparrow 1 in Anacortes yard on 1-30 (JH)
Harris's Sparrow 1 on Cockreham Island on 2-3 & 2-5 (GB)
BLACKBIRDS and ORIOLES
Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 in mixed blackbird flock on Wylie Road on 2-14 (PP)
FINCHES and ALLIES
Pine Siskin 100 at Camano Island home from 2-3 to present (SRP)
MAMMALS
Beaver 1 on bank at Skagit Wildlife Management Area (Wylie Slough) on 1-7 (SAS)
(GB) Gary Bletsch; (JB) Jackie Boss; (LE) Larry Edwards; (JH) Joe Halton; (RK) Robert Kuntz; (LM) Libby Mills; (NOH) Neil O’Hara; (JO) Jeff Osmundson; (SRP) Sheila and Ron Pera; (PP) Pam Pritzl; (KR) Kurt Ranta; (JS) Jerry Schmidt; (SAS) Skagit Audubon Society Field Trip; (AW) Andrea Warner