Today I met Ken and Bruce and we headed north to meet Blair Bernson in Marysville and go see the Blue Jay that has been hanging out at a feeder in Bow. The fellow who owns and stocks the feeders was very obliging and welcoming, and pointed out the jay under one set of his feeders while we had gathered at the other set. It was a state year bird for Bruce and me, Ken had the one in Port Orchard last month, and Blair has been a regular at this feeder for the last week or so.
From here we drove the Samish Flats trying to locate the Gyrfalcon that has been found there recently. We got nice looks at one, and probably two Prairie falcons, one I saw perched on a distant post, being harassed by RWBLs, until it took flight. I followed in in the scope as it flew away, then banked and came right back at us initially high then diving to just over a blueberry orchard, then as it approached dropping to a foot or two off the wet ground and zipping in undetected on about 5-10,000 Dunlin. It got to within about 50 feet before they flushed and it screamed into the flock, turning upside down to grab a Dunlin, then flying away for its meal. Blair got great photos.
We found three falcon species, missing the Gyr and not seeing Merlin. From there we headed south to Fir Island, going to the North access area where a Swamp sparrow had been seen, as well as an American bittern. We were about to give up, when on the return walk I heard a Swamp sparrow calling maybe 50 feet from the trail. We walked down near the cattails and all heard and saw the SWSP. Blair may have photos. Bruce saw a WISN flush, we all got nice looks at Lincoln sparrow, but no bittern.
Heavy traffic on the way home, but we split driving, Bruce got the leg back thru Seattle, and got home by about 5:50 PM. Sunny, cold but not much wind, and overall a very nice day.