Dear Tweeters,

Howard and Thais Armstrong and I went to look for the Grey Catbird today at Barnaby Slough (Skagit County). There was no sign of it; as far as I know, no one has been able to confirm the single heard-only report of mid-June. On the way we checked for last year's YB Chat and last month's ST Flycatcher on Martin Road--neither species was found.

On the way back, we took the Concrete-Sauk Valley Road, and found what I believe is the Bank Swallow nest site that Wayne Weber was looking for. There were about 50 Bank Swallows going into scores (or a hundred?) holes, high up in the sandy cliff along the south side of the road. To get there, cross the Skagit River at Concrete. Zero the odometer at the south end of this bridge (locally called Dalles Bridge), and then go east (left). Go past Cedar Grove; the nest site is 1.5 miles farther on. Go past Heritage Bed and Breakfast (AKA the Ovenells' cattle ranch). About 3.1 miles upriver (eastward) from the bridge, there is a big turnout that overlooks the river. We saw about ten or so Bank Swallows there; we estimated there were fifty to sixty Bank Swallows in the general area, and did not see any Rough-wings or any other swallow species in that area. Go another tenth of a mile or a tad more (maybe 0.15 miles) further east from the riverside pullout, and the big sandy cliff is !
on the
south side of the road.

Another good bird on Concrete-Sauk Valley Road was a Western Meadowlark near the Heritage Bed and Breakfast place. Looking back over my past records, I notice that I had never seen one in the county past April. The bird flew up with one Starling, right at the driveway east of the main entrance to the B&B. It was a pale, dull-looking individual with virtually no yellow or black. We saw the white outer tail feathers, and watched it as it perched on a post near the road. It may have been a juvenile, but I don't have a picture of a young WEME in my field guides, and have not seen one in a long time, so am not sure. The habitat certainly looks good for breeding grounds.

Good birding,



Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

near Lyman (Skagit County), Washington

garybletsch at yahoo.com


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