Tweeters:

Two quick items -
(1) We checked out the Marysville STP today as first stop on a whirlwind
tour of points north. Hadn't been there in over a year (last time the
place was pretty much torn up with new construction). To get there,
exit I-5 at Marysville, go east into town on 3rd, turn right (south)
on State St. for two blocks to 1st, where you will see a small green
"Public Works" sign. Turn left (east) on to 1st for a couple of blocks,
and look for the second "Public Works" sign. Turn right and you run into
the parking lot for the STP, AND a locked gate with "AUTHORIZED
PERSONNEL ONLY" and "NO ADMITTANCE" signs. You can easily walk around the
gate, and I think that we used to ignore any signs in the past.
Today we ran into a pleasant gentleman in the parking lot, who turned out
to be the City Engineer. He gave us his card, and permission to go ahead
with our birding (and admitted that he couldn't see any particular reason
to keep birders out - he uses the roads around the ponds as a jogging
trail), but did indicate that while they prefer that people stay out of the
area, they don't really have any policy on the subject. I would suggest
that if no one is around on weekends, go ahead. During the week it may be
best to stop in the office and try to get official permission. The place
has changed a lot with the new upgrade. There is essentially no rocky
pond edge (such as you find at Stanwood), it is now essentially all
steep grass. Since we were mostly after shorebirds, we noted the 10,000
eclipsed ducks on the floats, checked out the low tide river edges nearby,
and went on. Still worth checking out as the season progresses.

(2) I had my first sighting of what now seems to be the annual appearance
of an American Bittern at this time of year at the Montlake Fill. The
bird was seen on Saturday, Sept. 9, on the east side of the Fill, on the
logs in the little inlet reached by the first trail through the brambles
just beyond post #3. Not a rare bird, but certainly elusive, and one of
my favorites for its charming habit of trying to keep a single weed between
itself anyone trying to photograph it.


Gary DuVall
Seattle
gduvall at eskimo.com