Typical scene. Photo Karl Snepp

We hoped to see a lot of ducks and we were not disappointed.  There were over five hundred Mallards, hundreds of American Wigeons, hundreds of Northern Pintails, about a dozen Buffleheads, 2 or more dozen Ring-necked Ducks, two or three American Coots, numerous hybrids, and at least one Eurasian Wigeon.

Phil looking for the Eurasian Wigeon. Photo Dale Garvey

Many areas were jammed with ducks wing to wing.  As we walked close to the shore, flocks of ducks would rise and move to another location.

Wigeons in Flight. Photo Dale Garvey

Upon leaving we noticed several very large flocks in flight.  It is possible that an Eagle had just paid a visit to the duck’s gathering place.

The names of the ducks above are linked to the appropriate pages on the Cornell “All About Birds” website.

Ruth Scanning for the Special Duck. Photo Dale Garvey.

Karl amazed. Photo Dale Garvey.

Click on a thumbnail to see a  larger image.

Although Common Redpolls are not considered rare in our state, I had never seen one. When a flock was reported roaming the Skagit Flats, I went with a group to try to locate them. After a day of frustration, no such bird was seen. A few weeks later I was sitting in my living room when a Common Redpoll landed on our back fence and sat there long enough for me to get a camera and take its picture. It had apparently been feeding in our neighbors’ yard. So far as I know, none have been reported in Trilogy since.

On a fishing trip to Key West, I had made up a list of birds I hoped to see. One was a Black-Throated Blue Warbler. After two trips a year apart, we had not located that bird. On the last day on the island, we were parked in a large concrete parking lot with one small island of plants right in the center of the lot. We parked next to that green spot. While my partner went inside, I sat in the car waiting. I looked up and there, not five feet from me, was a Black-Throated Blue Warbler busily foraging.

A few years back, I had the privilege of spending four weeks over a two-year period on Guam. As you may know, there are no birds on the island. The Brown Tree Snakes have decimated the entire bird population. Somehow a few Yellow Bitterns have managed to survive. I was told where to go to see them. I went to that spot at least a dozen times during those four visits. No Yellow Bitterns! Once again, however, serendipity stepped in. I was sitting in the departure lounge at the Guam airport awaiting my flight back home. Just outside the window was a grassy area. Just before the departure call, three Yellow Bitterns landed on the grass and began foraging for food.

One final example… I had never seen a Great Gray Owl. When one was reported just east of I-5 south of Mount Vernon, I went with a group to see if we could find it. After two hours of walking backroads and driving around the area, we loaded up and headed for home. Just a few moments in the car, we rounded a curve in the road and there, sitting on a fence post not 20 feet from us, was the Great Gray Owl. A stunning bird. We watched it drop down, grab a vole, swallow it, and return to the fencepost.

If there is a moral to these stories, it is “Expect the Unexpected When Birding and Hope for Serendipity.”