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
Emperor Goose 2 at March Point on 12-5 (GB) RARE
Brant 20+ on Padilla Bay on 12-11 (SAS)
Trumpeter Swan 4 on Big Beaver Pond, ACFL on 12-16 (RH)
Tundra Swan 2 at SWAWS on 11-21 & 5 on 12-1 (NOH)
Redhead 12 on Butler Flats on 12-13 (GB)
Long-tailed Duck 100+ off March Point on 12-11 (SAS)
Ruddy Duck 100 at Similk Bay on 12-11 (SAS)
GREBES
Eared Grebe 1 on Samish Island on 11-23 (GB)
RAILS and COOTS
Virginia Rail 2 at SWAWS on 11-21 (NOH)
SANDPIPERS and ALLIES
Wilson's Snipe 50 by Similk Bay on 12-11 (SAS)
Spotted Sandpiper 1 at North Beach, Guemes Island on 12-4 (TRM); 2 at Nichols Bar on 12-13 (GB)
ALCIDS
Marbled Murrelet 8 off North Beach & 2 off Young’s Park, Guemes Island on 12-4 (TRM)
Ancient Murrelet 120 off Young’s Park, Guemes Island on 12-3 (GB); 5 off North Beach & 25 off Young’s Park, Guemes Island on 12-4 (TRM)
GULLS and TERNS
Glaucous Gull 1 in Burlington on 12-8 (GB)
HAWKS, EAGLES and ALLIES
Northern Harrier 5 on Samish Flats on 11-19 & 6 at FIFR on 11-24 (NOH)
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 throughout sighting period at east Stanwood yard (MS/JS)
Cooper's Hawk 1 at east Stanwood yard on 12-5, 10 & 14 (MS)
Red-tailed Hawk 1 dark Harlan’s on Farm to Market Rd on 12-17 (AW)
Rough-legged Hawk 1 on Samish Flats on 11-19 (NOH)
OWLS
Great Horned Owl 1 at SWAWS on 11-21 & 1 on 12-1 (NOH); duets heard starting on 11-29 at east Fidalgo yard (RW); 1 heard at east Stanwood yard on 12-13 (MS)
Barred Owl 1 at SWAWS on 11-21 (NOH)
Short-eared Owl 1at FIFR on 11-24 (NOH)
WOODPECKERS
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 at east Fidalgo yard on 11-17 (RW)
FALCONS
American Kestrel 2 on Samish Flats on 11-19 (NOH)
Merlin 2 on Lincoln Hill, Mount Vernon on 12-13 (TRM); 1 in Edison & 1 on Bayview Edison Rd on 12-17 (AW)
Gyrfalcon 1 off Chuckanut on 12-7 (AW)
Peregrine Falcon 2 on Samish Flats on 11-19 & 1 at SWAWS on 11-21 (NOH)
Prairie Falcon 1 off Bayview Edison Rd on 12-16 & 1 at corner of Bayview Edison and Sullivan on 12-17 (AW)
FLYCATCHERS
Black Phoebe 1 at SWAWS on 11-21 (NOH)
SHRIKES
Northern Shrike 1 at SWAWS on 12-1 (NOH)
CORVIDS
California Scrub-Jay 1 in Burlington on 11-28 (GB)
BUSHTITS
Bushtit 8 at east Stanwood yard on 12-10 (MS)
NUTHATCHES
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 at east Stanwood yard on 12-10 (MS)
CREEPERS
Brown Creeper 2 at Cranberry Lake on 11-29 (NOH); 1 at east Stanwood yard on 12-11 (MS)
WRENS
Pacific Wren 2 at east Stanwood yard throughout sighting period (MS/JS)
DIPPERS
American Dipper 1 at Rasar State Park on 12-10 (GB)
KINGLETS
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 at SWAWS on 11-21 & 8 at Cranberry Lake, ACFL on 11-29 (NOH)
THRUSHES
American Robin 13 at east Stanwood yard on 12-10 (MS)
Varied Thrush 2 at Cranberry Lake, ACFL on 11-29 (NOH); 1 at east Stanwood yard on 12-13 (MS/JS)
LONGSPURS and BUNTINGS
Snow Bunting 3 along Padilla Bay Trail on 12-8 (GB)
SPARROWS and ALLIES
White-throated Sparrow 1 at SWAWS on 11-21 (GB)
Harris's Sparrow 1 at SWAWS on 11-21 (GB)
BLACKBIRDS and ORIOLES
Red-winged Blackbird 1 at east Stanwood yard on 12-10 (MS)
WARBLERS
Townsend's Warbler 1 female at Mount Vernon yard (DH)
(ACFL) Anacortes Community Forest Lands; (GB) Gary Bletsch; (FIFR) Fir Island Farm Reserve aka Hayton Reserve; (DH) Di Hoffman; (RH) Ramona Hammerly; (NOH); Neil O’Hara; (TRM) Tim Manns; (JS) Jeff Sinker; (MS) Mary Sinker; (SAS) Skagit Audubon Society Field Trip; (SWAWS) Skagit Wildlife Area Wylie Slough; (AW) Andrea Warner; (RW) Regan Weeks