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.
WATERFOWL
Tundra Swan 62 in Dodge Valley on 1-11 (GB)
Eurasian Wigeon 1 on Butler Flats on 1-11 (GB)
Canvasback 15 on Lake Erie on 12-21 (GB); 4 off Bay View State Park on 1-11 (KK)
Redhead 21 on Lake Erie on 12-21 and 1-4 (GB); 14 at Lake Erie on 1-6 (BK)
Ring-necked Duck 650 on Lake Erie on 12-21 (GB)
White-winged Scoter 3 at Clayton Beach, Larrabee State Park, on 1-2 (TM)
Ruddy Duck 7 on Lake Erie on 12-21 (GB)
HERONS and ALLIES
Black-crowned Night-Heron 5 at Reifel Refuge on 1-15 (SAS)
RAILS
Virginia Rail 2 at Green Road pond on 12-25 (GB)
SHOREBIRDS
Greater Yellowlegs 30 at the Skagit Game Range on 12-24 (GB); 7 at Bingo Hall Lagoon on 1-10 (GB)
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 at the Skagit Game Range on 12-24 (GB) rare in winter
Spotted Sandpiper 1 at Secret Harbor, Cypress Island, on 1-15 (TM)
Black Turnstone 50 at Clayton Beach, Larrabee State Park, on 1-2 (TM)
Least Sandpiper 6 at March Point on 1-10 (GB)
ALCIDS
Ancient Murrelet 2 at Samish Island Public Beach on 12-7(GB)
DOVES, PIGEONS
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1 frequenting Burlington yard throughout count period (PLE)
Mourning Dove 125 in one small area of Minkler Flats on 1-11, unusually large concentration (GB)
OWLS
Barred Owl 1 seen on McClean Road on 1-13 (BO)
Long-eared Owl 2 at Eide Road, Stanwood, on 1-7 (SRP)
Short-eared Owl 1 at the end of Channel Drive, LA Conner on 1-6 (SRS); 5 at Eide Road, Stanwood, on 1-7 (RSP); 6 at West 90, Samish Flats on 1-13 (AW)
Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 at Harry Osborne State Forest on 12-25 and 1-9 (GB); 3 at Reifel Refuge on 1-15 (SAS)
WOODPECKERS
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 on Pass Lake loop trail on 1-3 (SRS)
SHRIKES
Northern Shrike 1 at West-90, Samish Flats on 1-13 (AW)
CORVIDS
Western Scrub-Jay 1 in Mount Vernon yard on 1-13 (JV)
WRENS
House Wren 1 on Samish Island on 12-27 (CBC)
WAXWINGS
Bohemian Waxwing 12 at Reifel Refuge on 1-15 (SAS)
Cedar Waxwing 17 on Lincoln Hill, Mount Vernon, on 1-4 (TM, BC); 19 on Lincoln Hill, Mount Vernon, on 1-12 (TM)
WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler 1 in Burlington yard throughout count period (PLE); 1 in Mount Vernon yard 1-7 to present (JV)
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 “Audubon’s” in Mount Vernon yard 1-7 to present (JV); 1 “Audubon’s at the Skagit Game Range on 1-11 (GB)
Townsend's Warbler 1 in Mount Vernon yard 1-7 (JV); 1 on Lincoln Hill, Mount Vernon, on 1-9 (TM)
SPARROWS
Savannah Sparrow 3 on the Butler Flats on 1-10 (GB); 6 at East 90, Samish Flats on 1-13 (AW)
White-throated Sparrow 1 at the Skagit Game Range on 1-13 (BK)
Harris's Sparrow 1 at Reifel Refuge on 1-15 (SAS)
BLACKBIRDS
Brown-headed Cowbird 50 on the Butler Flats on 1-10 (GB)
FINCHES
Pine Grosbeak 1 at Padilla Bay Interpretive Center on 12-27 (CBC)
Red Crossbill 28 in Bay View on 12-22 (JA)
Evening Grosbeak 11 in Bay View on 12-22 (JA)
(JA) Jean Ashby; (GB) Gary Bletsch; (BC) Brenda Cunningham; (CBC) Padilla Bay Christmas Bird Count; (PLE) Pat & Larry Edwards; ( (KK) Kraig Kemper; BK) Bob Kuntz; (TM) Tim Manns; (LM) Libby Mills; (BO) Bonnie Olpin; (SRP) Sheila & Ron Pera; (PP) Pam Pritzl; (SAS) Skagit Audubon Society Field Trip; (SRS) Steven & Ruth Sutton; (JV) Jon Vanderheyden; (AW) Andrea Warner
GREBES We apologize that this photo of the Pied-billed Grebe, which appeared in the printed January 2015 Flyer was printed without the photographer’s name. This Pied-billed Grebe was photographed by Ron Holmes. We Thank Ron and other photographers for their photographic contributions!