Camano Island/Stanwood Field Trip (3/9/06) Highlights

... in the cold windy air. A Winter Wren's spring song filled the air. Soon small numbers of Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swans flew overhead while Northern Harriers were out on early morning hunts. One Greater Yellowlegs foraged in the flooded field. Western, Horned and Red-necked Grebe, Common, Pacific and Red-throated Loon, and Western Gull were scoped in Ultsalady Bay. From the boat launch several hundred more Western Grebe could be seen floating lazily in Saratoga Passage along with White-winged and Surf Scoter. Kinglets and one likely Hutton's Vireo flitted in the trees while Green-winged Teal could be seen in Triangle Cove. At Iverson Spit Sanctuary Golden-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee and Fox Sparrow claimed the shrubs. Ducks were numerous at the Stanwood Sewage Treatment Pond and included Ruddy and Ring-necked Duck and Northern Shoveler. A Wilson's Snipe flew out from a ditch as people returned to the cars. An American Kestrel gave good views as it perched and hunted from a building on Thomle Rd. where a flock of 25 handsome Western Meadowlarks were seen in the green grassy field. It took awhile but a Eurasian Wigeon was found among the knot of American Wigeon scoped in the nearby field. After enduring the cold and wind for most of the day, it felt good to recall the variety of birds seen during the day while enjoying a warm ride home. 6 Birders-66 Species