[Tweeters] Skagit Report for August 16 2024 - and my RF 100-500

[Jim Betz via Tweeters]

Hi all,


   I went to a lot of different locations yesterday ... Channel Drive, 
Ship Harbor, Rosario, Mt. Erie,

Hart Lake, Cap Sante, N Ave Beach, March Point, and the 90's of the 
Samish Flats.  Here's an

overall/big picture of the birding.  First - the tide was low when I 
started and by the time I

finished about 6 hours later it was pretty much full ... and the 
conditions were mixed between

overcast (early) to full sun (late).


   Channel Drive - tide low and lots of activity for Mallards, Greater 
Yellowlegs, and Great

                               Blue Herons.  Notable misses were 
Dowitchers, Phalaropes, and Semi-palmated.

   Ship Harbor - tide again low, 'normal' activity meaning GBH, gulls, 
crows, and a few song birds

                            and cormorants.  Notable misses were Eagles, 
Osprey, and RWB.

   Rosario - typical activity levels.  Oystercatchers (out on rock), 
White-crowned, and gulls.

                    Notable misses were Guillemots, Murrelets, 
Harlequin, Eagle, and Ring-billed.

   Mt. Erie - nice day, very hazy in the distance, zero birds.

   Hart Lake parking lot - zero birds, even out in the farthest areas of 
the lake.

   Cap Sante - zero birds flying near the lot.

   N Ave. Beach - a few cormorants and gulls.  Nothing close or remarkable.

   March Point - tide was back up and coming in GBH, White Pelican, a 
couple of Canada Geese,

                            and the typical number of gulls.

   West and East 90's - zero birds except the ubiquitous blackbirds on 
the wires.


   So ... a 'typical August day in Skagit County'.  I had my new RF 
100-500 lens and was hoping to

find a Bald Eagle and/or Red-tailed ... saw one RTH on a pole that was 
mid-afternoon and it

terrible light so didn't attempt a picture.  The new lens is wonderful 
(I had it on my R7) - it is

not 'hugely better than the 100-400' I already have ... but it is 
noticeably better (detail level) ...

and also noticeably heavier.  But I can still carry and shoot handheld 
so my 2 primary criteria

are met.

- Jim