Hi all,

I headed out to Jetty Island in Everett today. Here are the highlights:

On the eastern shore:
~200 WESTERN SANDPIPERS with a couple of LEAST mixed in
2 DOWITCHER flying over

In the Lagoon and along the western shore:
~250 WESTERN SANDPIPERS all in lagoon
~10 LEAST SANDPIPERS all in the lagoon keeping separate from the westerns
-at least two maybe three SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS(they moved around a lot) mixed in with the westerns
3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS
40-50 BONAPARTES GULLS some with black heads but most in winter plumage, seems a bit early doesn't it??

Lastly a mystery tern, it was either a COMMON or ARCTIC and it was associating with four caspians. It did not have a complete cap, it was missing a little bit of black in the front. below is my case for both species I would really like it if people would send me their thoughts or even make an effort to go see it and have a look for themselves so we can figure this out.

Case for Common:
-two tone bill, black at tip
-did not have the darker gray body that all the field guides show for arctic(but juvy's might be lighter I dont really know)

Case for Arctic:
-many of you know about the history of the arctic tern on Jetty Island and how they have bred here in many of the past years, and giving that it is early for the common tern in this area this could mean it is an arctic that is trying to breed.
-There was NO black or even dark grey on the top of the outer wings which were completely pure white and only a little on the underwing much like an arctic.
-The bird had short legs which made it sit low on the ground like an arctic.

I would really appreciate everyone's thoughts on this bird. It looks like the migration is starting! thanks again

Matt Andrews
St. Louis, MO
Gator3203 at aol.com