No great shakes but I stopped briefly (4:45-6 pm) at Jensen this eve. There
were plenty of shorebirds around, the highlight among 10 sp. present was a
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER at the bay's edge, strangely enough in close to
breeding plumage! This has been a banner fall for both golden-plovers in
Skagit Co. Also of note were a late BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and three PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS. A Merlin and Peregrine were active in the area; plenty of
pipits around also, including one group of about 30.

At our place in Lake Stevens this morn, a W. TANAGER lingered in our woods
for another day, three days beyond our previous latest for our 5+ years
here. Not as notable for a departure date but still potentially of
interest, a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was also still with us on Saturday,
the 6th. Increasing numbers of juncos, RC Kinglets, Winter Wrens, and
arrival Varied Thrushes are more typical these days.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
email: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

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