Today I birded the dike near the West 90 in Skagit County. Ponds 1,2 and 4
were void of birds and Pond #3 had 2 AMERICAN PIPITS and 3 WESTERN
MEADOWLARKS.

>From the dike there were many shorebirds. The quickest and easiest way to
get to the dike from the West 90 is to walk the fence line west from the
parking lot. It puts you on the dike and where the birds have been on my
last 2 visits. If you want to check the ponds first, you can easily climb
the dike from pond #4.

These are the birds I saw today around noon from this dike.

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
DUNLIN
LEAST SANDPIPER
WESTERN SANDPIPER
PECTORAL SANDPIPER (4)
RED KNOT (2)
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (4)
I aso had nice looks at a HARLAN'S HAWK from the dike.

On the way home I ran into Gene Hunn at the Everett STP. Although I could
not find the FRANKLIN'S GULL I was looking for, Gene was quick to spot a
female BLACK DUCK resting on the concrete edge on the main pond just inside
the gate.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA