Christy,
Last Spring when I was at Juanita Bay Park I also saw Spotted
Sandpipers there. I don't believe they are all that uncommon in that
location.
As for the bird which looked like a Chat, could it have been a Common
Yellowthroat which is a mini version of a Chat? You didn't mention
size.

Yvonne Bombardier
Everett, Wa
ravenn at premier1.net

> In Juanita Bay Park in Kirkland on 8/10, I saw 2 spotted sandpipers walking
> on the lily pads searching for bugs. I don't know if this is an unusual
> sighting or not, but it was a first for me.
>
> I also saw I bird I struggled to identify. The closest I can get by all my
> guides is a Yellow-breasted Chat. Can anyone tell me if this is likely or
> not? The bird had a yellow throat and breast, gray back and wings, white
> eye ring (but not really the "spectacles" shown in the books), and a faded
> looking black patch behind and above the eye. Of course, he only was there
> for a few seconds and flew off.
>
> If anyone wants to speculate, I'd welcome it.
>
> Christy Anderson
> Bellevue, WA
> christya at gte.net
>