La Conner Nature Cruise Field Trip (2/25/06) Highlights

About a mile east of La Conner on our way there we saw 100+ Trumpeter Swans. We left dock about 10:00 on a cloudy, cold (34º) day. It did not rain and was not windy, and it was okay outside when the boat was moving slowly or stopped. However, when the boat was moving faster we moved inside the wheelhouse to view the birds through the large windows. The route we took went up (north) the Swinomish Channel to Padilla Bay, through Guemes Channel to Deepwater Bay on Cypress Island, around Fidalgo, Burrows and Allan Islands to Rosario Head. Then through Canoe Pass - instead of Deception Pass because of a slack tide - then past Hat Island and Goat Island, then north by the rock dike at the entrance to the Swinomish Channel and back to La Conner.

Heading up the channel we saw many Common Merganser,American Wigeon and Great Blue Heron, as well as a few Belted Kingfisher. One Rough-legged Hawk was perched in a distant tree. In Padilla Bay there were a number of small groups of Long-tailed Ducks (formerly Oldsquaw) in their beautiful breeding plumage and close enough for photos. Red-breasted Mergansers were common. There were over 400 Brant and large numbers of Western and Red-necked Grebes. All three species of cormorant were seen, most in breeding plumage.

During the cruise around Fidalgo Island there Pigeon Guillemots prevalent throughout. There were many Common and Red-throated Loons and small numbers of Rhinocerus Auklets and Common Murre. On small rock islands at three locations we saw Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones and a small group of Sanderling. At one area we saw Surfbirds. At Rosario Head we also saw our only Harlequin Ducks, a pair. On the rocks that were above water on the dike south of Swinomish Channel we saw a few Dunlin and four river otter.

After we left La Conner some of us drove to Jensen Access where there were hundreds of Dunlin and a few Bald Eagle. Along Fir Island Road we saw a Peregrine Falcon and an American Kestrel. We also visited the Hayden Preserve where there were more Dunlin, a Rough-legged Hawk, a few Bald Eagle and two Snowy Owls that were visible in the far distance through a scope.

For the total trip we saw 21 Bald Eagles, 6 Northern Harriers, 7 Red-tailed Hawks. It was a good trip with many good birds. We also saw a pair of California sea lions on a channel buoy and a number of harbor seal throughout the cruise.