Tweeters,

I had a few noteworthy sightings yesterday, August 1, in Skagit and
Whatcom Counties. However, birding was slow generally, in part because
I got a late start to the day.

EASTERN KINGBIRD-- I followed up on Scott Atkinson's report a couple
of weeks ago of a pair nesting at 7650 Ranger Station Road in
Marblemount. I didn't find any there, but I did see one along
Powerline Road no more than 200 metres away from the location on
Ranger Station Road.

On returning to State Highway 20, one Eastern Kingbird was on
telephone wires at the intersection with Ranger Station Road. Also,
0.5 miles farther east on State Highway 20, I stopped at the tourist
information center and there were 2 more Eastern Kingbirds, which
appeared to be an adult and a young bird (indistinct white tail-band).

So I saw at least 2 and possibly 4 Eastern Kingbirds, and it appears
that young were successfully fledged in Marblemount.

BARRED OWL-- I had nice looks at a BARRED OWL in the forest close to
State Highway 20 in Newhalem (Whatcom Co.), after I became suspicious
when two ROBINS were persistently scolding something for more than 20
minutes.

TURKEY VULTURE-- Two TURKEY VULTURES were circling over State Highway
20 at Rockport. This appears to be an uncommon to rare breeding
species in Skagit County.

BRANT-- I bombed out on trying to find shorebirds in Padilla Bay
(tide too high), but did see a summering BRANT from the east side of
March Point, about a mile north of Highway 20. The bird was feeding
with several MALLARDS near one of the dredge spoil island along the
west side of the Swinomish Waterway.

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net