Friday I left for Westport for the Saturday pelagic trip. En route I looked
for the Emperor Goose near Raymond/South Bend. I first searched the area
around South Bend where the bird had been recently reported. At Giles Lane
NW of South Bend I had no Emperor Goose, but I heard a HUTTON'S VIREO and
noticed 2 of them in the conifers. There were many CANADA GEESE and 20-30
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in the fields.

I decided to try the other side of the river where the bird had been
reported earlier. Following Patrick Sullivan's detailed Tweeters message
dated Feb 3, I turned up Camenzind Road, at MP 3, west of Raymond. At
4:00PM I saw the EMPEROR GOOSE with CANADA GEESE as I looked below to the
north from a cattle feeding station near the end of the road.

After the pelagic trip Saturday I traveled to the Hoquiam STP where I saw
the TUFTED DUCK where it has been reported earlier.

Today (Sunday) I went to the Skagit Wildlife Management Area on Fir Island
in Skagit County to try again for the PINE GROSBEAKS. I started at 7:45AM
working the area along the loop trail near the first parking lot. At
11:00AM they showed up: 4 females or immature males, feeding on buds. In
the same same area were an adult white-stripe WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and 2
small flocks of COMMON REDPOLLS.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA