Dear Tweets;
Greetings, Washington birders! This wandering New York City birder
has found himself unable to resist the lure of your glorious scenery, and is
returning sooner than expected for another go. Actually, I've been unable to
resist the lures of a lovely woman I met on the last trip, but the birds are
nice too.... This visit is primarily a social one, but I've got some built
in birding time to shoot for a few life birds- I should fairly easily get my
500th Lower 48 species on this trip. I'm arriving on Monday, the 7th, and am
staying for 10 days. I'll be staying in Seattle, but also am spending 2 days
on Orcas Island, and I'm taking a day trip to Portland to see a friend, and
have allowed for birding detours along the way. Once again, I will impose on
you for any kind suggestions that would aid in my search for the following
birds. Forgive me if I'm asking after seasonal impossibilities- I've guessed
as to the best shots from info gleaned from all published literature, and
your reports for the last few weeks. Any way we can talk that Sharp-tailed
Sandpiper into coming back for a day or two? Here's my wish list:
Pacific Golden-Plover (I know I may be a smidge late)
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Red Phalarope
Parasitic Jaeger
Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Lapland Longspur

The following I know are rare or later arrivals, but maybe I'll get lucky:
Yellow-billed Loon, Trumpeter Swan, Rock Sandpiper, Franklin's Gull,
Sabine's Gull, Ancient Murrelet, any number of early winter owls, Northern
Shrike.
Thanks again in advance for your insights- I'm looking forward to once
again gracing your shores, fields and forests.
Happy birding!
Ken Allaire
NYC Birder
kallaire at cs.com