For more information contact: Bob Myhr, Lopez 468-2258 Jerry Kasparek, Orcas 376-5524 Barb Jensen, San Juan 378-3068 Or click the active links above.

January Raptor Trip 2005, Samish Flats Eight SJIAudubon members met at the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center in Bay View for a trip through the raptor rich Samish Flats. We started by sighting 2 Peregrine Falcons before dropping down to the Flats. We saw at least 16 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Harlin's Hawk, 10 Rough-legged Hawk, 23 Mature and 9 Sub-adult Bald Eagle, 19 Northern Harrier, 5 Short-eared Owl, 1 Cooper's Hawk and a Juvenile Gyrfalcon at the West 90. The Gyr gave much aerial display harrassing and being harrassed by Northern Harrier and Bald Eagle; it showed hunting flight and cleptoparasitism on a Harrier as well, caputing a mammal (too large for a vole) mid-air and then consuming its meal within 75 feet of the parking lot atop an electric pole. Click here to see the Gyr from the back. Two of the party passed through the area later in the day and saw a Merlin as well. Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Northern Pin-tail, shorebirds and Gulls were also seen in great abundance. A flock of Goldfinches at the West 90 was another surprise. The rain and wind held off until noon when we stopped for coffee at the Edison Bakery. January Bird-walk, Lopez Island A group of 12 Lopez an Orcas Islanders met at the Lopez ferry landing at 7:25AM for a great morning of birding. They spent much of the time looking at sea and water birds at Otis Perkins Park and Port Stanley. 15 species of duck were seen including Common and Barrow's Goldeneye, all three local Mergansers, Harlequin Duck, Lesser Scaup (after considerable discussion), Northern Pintail and Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck and the ubiqutious Bufflehead. Three species of local Grebe were also seen, all but the Western. Greater Yellowlegs, American Coot, Marbled Murrelet and Glaucous-winged Gull as well. Raptors included Northern harrier, Red-tailed Hawk and bald Eagle, Among passerines we saw Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, White and Goldern-Crowned Sparrow, Pine Siskin and Red-winged Blackbird. A total of 42 species in all. May Bird-walk, Lopez Island The May 18th Bird-walk on Lopez Island had eight participants who once again had good birding weather and little wind. All the Islands serviced by the ferry were represented except Shaw. We also had birders from Crane Island and Kirkland on the mainland. The highlights were a Blue-winged Teal, Pectoral Sandpiper, Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Wilson's Warbler. For the full list click here. April Bird-walk, Shaw Island The April 20th Bird-walk on Shaw had twelve participants who enjoyed the good birding weather. Our stops included the Community Center, the old Moody property, Squaw Bay, U. of W. lands and the County Park. Many early transitional species were seen including Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat and three Swallow species. Some of the highlights were Greater Yellowlegs, Green-winged Teal, two Horned Grebe in summer plummage and immature males of Surf Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser. A total of 45 species were seen. To view the complete list click here. March Bird-walk, Orcas Island The March Bird-walk on Orcas was canceled due to snow and high winds. Hope to see you on Shaw in April. February Bird-walk, San Juan Island Starting out on the San Juan Island field trip in February with gray skies is nothing new, at least it was not snowing. Our first stop was Felicitations for a cup off coffee and a sweet treat. On San Juan Rd. we saw 4 Trumpeter Swans with a juvenile, Mallards, one Northern Shoveler, and two American Wigeons. Back into the cars to check out a pond near Douglas Rd. where we saw six Green -Wing Teal, Northern Shoveler about four American Wigeons. At the corner of Douglas Rd. Bailer Rd. we saw a Bald Eagle, and lots of Red-wing and Brewers Blackbirds, Robins and Crows. Further down the road there was a Kestrel, a flock of Canada Geese and a few sparrow species. At the pond along Wold Rd. we saw various ducks most of them being American Wigeons. We then backtracked to False Bay Rd. when the rain began to fall, but we still wanted to check out the bay. The rain didn't bother an Oystercatcher, Sanderlings, Pintails, and various, Gulls as they went on their merry way. The rain stopped, and we decided to go to American Camp with a stop at Panorama Pond. There we say Mallards, Buffleheads and Lesser Scaup, but on the other side of the road the forest was alive with Song Sparrows, Juncos, Red-Wing Blackbirds, Spotted Towhee, two Brown Creepers, Golden -crowned Kinglets and two Varied Thrush. At Redoubt Overlook the wind was cold and we were damp from the rain so we decided to head for the ferry. A couple Northern Flickers and Western Meadowlarks bid us good-bye. The eight of us had a good time seeing 39 species and we still had time for another stop at Felicitations to enjoy more treats. Submitted by Jerry Kasperak

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