I have been doing a more or less weekly census at The Stanwood Sewage Ponds
since mid-March, usually with my son. We live just 3 miles away, so access
is easy. Perhaps some useful information will come of our information if
we keep at it. Our species list is up to 70 and growing almost every visit
we make. Sunday, 3 days ago, we added Black Swift, Sora and Mourning Dove.
Today we added Osprey. Black Swifts were also present today, foraging
over the west end of the large pond, perhaps 15 or 20 of them. Both Sunday
and today we were there in the late afternoon.

For the last 2 or 3 weeks there have been about a hundred Gadwall, but
today only 22. Are they heading off to breeding areas this late, or are
these all non-breeders?

There have been 2 to 4 Spotted Sandpipers every visit since March. Could
they be breeding here?

What are beautiful male Ruddy Ducks doing here in mid June? Shouldn't they
be off breeding somewhere?
Same question for Common Goldeneye.

Michael, I'll let you know when the first Lesser Yellowlegs and Western
Sandpipers arrive on their way south.

Dan Logen
Stanwood, Wa