SKAGIT AUDUBON FIELD NOTES
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 for the upcoming Flyer to:
Pam Pritzl, ppritzl@frontier.com or 360-387-7024.
WATERFOWL
Greater White-fronted Goose 1 at SR 20 milepost 100 fields 3-15 & 3-23 (GB); 1 adult continues at Sutter Creek rest area reported on 3-18 & 3-25 (RM); 4 on Calhoun Rd. on 4-9 (AW)
Snow Goose 1,000 in field by Big Ditch on 4-19 (PP)
Brant 4000 off Bay View on 3-16 (GB)
Trumpeter Swan seen on Calhoun Rd. on 4-9 (AW)
Tundra Swan seen on Calhoun Rd. on 4-9 (AW)
Wood Duck 2 pair on Gages Slough, District Line Rd. on 4-4 (RH)
Cinnamon Teal pair on Cascade Trail east of Sedro Woolley on 4-9 (DW)
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS
Ruffed Grouse 1 heard drumming at the Agg ponds on 3-31 (RM)
Sooty Grouse hooting on Thunder Knob on 3-31 (RM)
VULTURES
Turkey Vulture 1 at Marblemount on 3-18 (RM)
RAPTORS
Sharp-shinned Hawk at least 2 adults and 2 more accipiters that were probably SSHA in Upper Skagit Valley on 3-31 (RM)
Rough-legged Hawk 4 on Samish Flats on 4-9 (AW); 1 on Samish Flats on 4-13 (GB);
Golden Eagle 2 eating a calf at Sauk Prairie and at least 1 more over the ridge at Corkindale on 3-25 (RM)
American Kestrel 1 male on Martin Rd. on 3-18 (RM); seen at Sauk Prairie and Martin Rd. on 3-25 (RM); 2 on Dodge Valley Rd. on 4-9 (AW); 2 on Person’s Rd. on 4-9 (AW)
Merlin 2 daily near Hillcrest Park, Mount Vernon throughout period (TM)
Peregrine Falcon 2 at Martin Rd. on 3-25 (RM); 1 dark juvenile on Estes Rd. on 4-9 (AW)
RAILS
Virginia Rail heard at Green Road marsh on 4-13 (KJW)
SHOREBIRDS
Killdeer 2 at Corkindale on 3-25 (RM)
Greater Yellowlegs numerous at Skagit Game Range on 4-9 (AW)
Dowitcher species 1 at Skagit Game Range on 4-9 (AW)
Wilson's Snipe several heard at Skagit Game Range on 4-9 (AW); 3 along Nooachamps River near Babcock Rd. on 4-4 (TM); 4 at Northern State Recreation Area on 4-17 (TM)
GULLS
California Gull 5 on Samish Flats on 4-13 (GB)
DOVES, PIGEONS
Band-tailed Pigeon 3 in Darrington and another in Marblemount on 3-25 (RM)
Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 in Sedro Woolley on 4-9 (PS)
Band-tailed Pigeon 3 in Darrington and another in Marblemount on 3-25 (RM); 6 on Delvin Hill Rd. on 3-25 (RH)
OWLS
Snowy Owl 2 seen from Eide Rd. Stanwood on 4-1 (PP); 1 in Samish Flats (in area of Big Indian Slough) on 4-3 (CS)
Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 sitting out in open near Marblemount on 3-18 (RM)
HUMMINGBIRDS
Rufous Hummingbird 1at Skagit Game Range on 3-16 (GB); I male at Diablo on 3-18, early for the area on 3-18 (RM)
Female Rufus Hummingbird Photo by Joe Halton
WOODPECKERS
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker juvenile female seen on 3-31 (found by SGA) 2.3 miles south of Darrington (RM) RARE FOR OUR AREA
Northern Flicker 2 red-shafted x yellow-shafted intergrades in Upper Skagit Valley on 3-31(RM); 1 yellow-shafted and 3 red-shafted in Sedro-Woolley on 4-9 (PS)
FLYCATCHERS
Say's Phoebe 1 at Marblemount on 3-25 (RM); 1 on Martin Rd. near Rockport on 4-5 (GB)
Black Phoebe 1 at Skagit Game Range on 4-1 (JB)
SHRIKES
Northern Shrike 1 at Marblemount on 3-25 (RM); 1 on Martin Rd. near Rockport on 4-5 (GB)
VIREOS
Hutton's Vireo 1 on power-line-road south of Rockport-Cascade Rd. on 3-23 (GB)
CORVIDS
Gray Jay 2 at 2.3 miles south of Darrington 3-31 (RM)
SWALLOWS
Tree Swallow pair mat-
ing at C Street boat launch, Clear Lake on
4-17 (RH)
Tree Swallows Mating Photo by Ron Holmes
Violet-green Swallow 1 at Clayton Beach, Larrabee State Park on 4-3 (TM)
North Rough-winged Swallow recent arrivals in a few spots (RM); 1 at Deception Pass on 4-8 (LM)
Barn Swallow 1 on Minkler Flats on 4-13 (GB)
KINGLETS
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 26, moving through in decent numbers (RM)
THRUSHES
Western Bluebird 1 male at Corkindale on 3-18 (RM); pair at Corkindale on 3-25 (RM); 1 male in last big field in Marblemount on 3-25 (RM)
Mountain Bluebird 10 at Corkindale on 3-18 (RM); 13 at Corkindale on 3-23 (GB); 16 at Corkindale on 3-25 (RM); 1 female at Marblemount Boat Launch on 4-20 (SAS)
Townsend's Solitaire 1 near Hillcrest Park, Mount Vernon on 4-15 (TM); 5 at Corkindale on 4-20 (SAS)
Hermit Thrush 1 in Burlington yard on 4-17 (LE)
31(RM)
PIPITS
American Pipit 1 in Upper Skagit Valley, a couple weeks early, on 3-31 (RM)
WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler 1 at Bay View on 4-2 (LM); 1 at Camano Island home on 4-3 (PP); 1 near Clayton Beach, Larrabee State Park on 4-3 (TM)
Yellow-rumped Warbler “Audubon’s” have arrived in Upper Skagit Valley, observed on 3-31 (RM)
Common Yellowthroat 1 at Skagit Game Range on 4-1 (JB); 1 near Cockreham Island on 4-2 (GB); 1 at Bay View on 4-3 (LM); 1 at Northern State Recreation Area on 4-13 (SAS); 2 at Iverson Spit, Camano Island on 4-17 (PP)
SPARROWS
Savannah Sparrow have arrived in Upper Skagit Valley, observed on 3-31 (RM); 15+ at Northern State Recreation Area on 4-13 (TM); 1 on Dahlstedt Rd. on 4-17 (RH)
White-crowned Sparrow “pugetensis” have arrived in Upper Skagit Valley, observed on 3-31 (RM)
Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 in Burlington yard on 4/18 (LE)
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES
Western Meadowlark 10 at Corkindale and 1 in Diablo on 3-18 (RM); 2 at Northern State Recreation Area on 4-17 (TM)
FINCHES, WEAVER FINCHES
Cassin's Finch1 singing on Thunder Knob on 3-31 (RM)
Red Crossbill 100+ on Thunder Knob on 3-31 (RM)
Common Redpoll 1 at Marblemount Boat Launch on 3-18 (RM)
American Goldfinch at feeders on Camano Island (SP)
(SGA) Steve & Gail Aslanian; (JB) Joan Bird; (GB) Gary Bletsch; (LE) Larry Edwards; (RH) Ron Holmes; (TM) Tim Manns; (RM) Ryan Merrill; (LM) Libby Mills; (PP) Pam Pritzl; (SP) Sheila Pera; (CS) Cathy Scott; (PS) Paula Shafransky; (SAS) Skagit Audubon Field Trip; (AW) Andrea Warner; (DW) Daria Wheatly; (KJW) Keith & Jan Wiggers
Dark-eyed Junco Young Anacortes Yard, April 2013
Photos by Jane Brandt
All About Birds
Search for bird identification:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search
