Tweeters:

The family just returned from a few days on the wonderful OP, which included
the opportunity to bird abit around Sequim Saturday in the evening, and this
morn. At the Graysmarsh public beach access this morning, I found a migrant
VESPER SPARROW, flushed from wheat rows just in from the dunes. This
species was once regular around the DRA to the west, but those days are long
gone, so it is a good bird and just my second from Grays. Also of interest
near the beach this morn were an arrival LINCOLN'S SPARROW (my first of the
season) and a MERLIN. On August 31 in the evening, there were 3 BAIRD'S and
1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER among scattered peeps along the beach.

As far as more common species: this appears to be a banner year for CALIF.
QUAIL around Sequim--I ran into decent-sized flocks almost everywhere I/we
went, even right in town; I also noted a recently-run-over bird, and another
that had evidently just been hit prior to my drive-by along Third Ave, right
downtown. COM. RAVENS were also apparent in above-average numbers,
especially in the Port Williams area. On the other hand, shorebird and
forest passerine migration seemed generally poor, but there were hordes of
gulls (mostly CALIFORNIA) at the Graysmarsh beach and offshore, although
BONAPARTE'S weren't among them. I was also unable to find any COM. TERNS
offshore, which seemed odd, and swallows were surprisingly few near Grays,
although this was evident in last spring's migration count as well.

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

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