I birded Fir I. from 6-8 pm last night, finding three notable species out of
about 70 total. Jensen was remarkably quiet and the tide was quite high,
but Snow Goose was alive with birds. I went past the dike gate about 200
yds. (which I would not recommend, I have an "arrangement" locally), there
are some great lagoons along the north side of the dike here. Although
access is closed beyond the gate, the following birds may wander into the
public area:

SNOW GOOSE PRESERVE OF SKAGIT WMA 1800-2000 8/25 (includes bay offshore)

Com. Loon 40 (nearly all still in breeding plumage)
Red-necked Grebe 1
Western Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 5
many Pintail, 15 Am. Wigeon, GW Teal, a few Shovelers
Cinnamon Teal 18
Blue-winged Teal 1
Lesser Scaup 15
Surf & WW Scoters 25 total
Com. Merganser 350
Am. Coot 2
Virginia Rail 8 (calling birds at dusk)
BB Plover 75
Semipalmated Plover 1
W. Sandpiper 250
Least Sandpiper 50
Baird's Sandpiper 3
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1
dowitcher, sp. 4
peep, sp. 100
Ring-billed Gull 150
California Gull 20
FRANKLIN'S GULL 1
Caspian Tern 1
GRAY CATBIRD 1
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD 2

Notes: The GRAY CATBIRD was the most exciting bird of the day, my second
for the year in Skagit County. Details: when first heard, I thought
Spotted Towhee with hoarse cry, but it seemed like an odd spot--pure
cattail-Scirpus/bulrush thickets near the high tide mark south of the dike.
Upon closer approach, the bird began giving the classic catbird "meowing"
call repeatedly, which I know well from both eastern WA and years spent
living in MD. I pished for the bird and, although it stayed low, at one
point it jumped up to the top of a bulrush; since light was fading at dusk,
all I could make out in the fleeting glimpse was a dark, elongate passerine
before it went back down. Oh well--at least it was certain to not be a
odd-voiced Virginia Rail or Starling singing with expert mimicry.

There are now 6 county records/reports for GRAY CATBIRD, more amazing--three
from fall at the Skagit WMA. There was a bird at this precise spot several
falls ago (when the Game Dept briefly allowed open public access), but
despite pishing attempts, this one refused to come into view, yet called
repeatedly from the same low thickets. The FRANKLIN'S GULL was a (mostly)
winter-plumaged adult with a pretty full hood; it slept on the water just
off the shoreline w/RB Gulls. This species is even rarer for Skagit Co than
catbird, with (now) just 5 records. The YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS were two
females flying eastward, I also note Stuart MacKay's group had 3 just west
near Jensen on Sunday also.

Final note: the Skagit City (Moore Rd) farm pond was very quiet at about 6
pm--there were just a Pectoral and Spotted Sand there. Just the same, it's
clear the fall migration is picking up steam on Fir Island!

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com
















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