[Tweeters] Snows on Skagit/Samish Flats

[jimbetz at jimbetz.com]

Hi all,

   I went out to the 90s today to see if I could catch a sight of the
action.  There were more birders than birds ... but I did get to see
both a short-eared owl and a harrier (actually more than one harrier).
One eagle, several hundred swans in various groups of from 30 to 200.
Two or three GBH and less than half a dozen hawks ... and two Kestrels.

   The highlight of the day came when I was leaving.  I was driving
East on Benson Rd. and off to the North was the largest single
flock of Snow Geese I've ever seen.  About half of them were "up"
and the rest were on the ground.  Just the ones in the air were
more than I've ever seen (at one time in one group/flock).
   You know what the Dance of the Dunlins looks like - well this
was like that but all bright white Snow Geese.

   I would guess, conservatively, that there were 15,000.  I didn't
have the guts to report them all on eBird ... so that number is
just 8,000.
                                          - Jim in Skagit County