Hi,

I saw the RED KNOT on the spit at the Fort Flagler campground on
Marrowstone Island today, so it looks like this bird has overwintered
here. Dennis Paulson's book suggests that this is reasonably uncommon.
Single WESTERN SANDPIPER and RUDDY TURNSTONE were among the hundreds
of dunlin and 146 black turnstones and other shorebirds. Incidentally,
the turnstone was predominantly buffish brown, not the 'blackish'
black turnstone-like plumage I've seen in previous wintering
individuals. Does that make it of the morinella (Canadian arctic)
race?

There's clearly something going on with the fish there: thousands of
fish eaters were present including several hundred excellent THAYER'S
GULLS and spectacular BRANDT'S CORMORANTS -- don't ya just love it
when they're swimming with their plumes stuck out (the cormorants, not
the gulls).

Nigel Ball
Bainbridge Island
nball001 at msn.com