Hello all.
I have been perusing through the recent posts to scope out the migrant
progress, and thought I'd throw in my recent observations. I think the
most impressive spectacle I have been witnessing up here in the Skagit is
the absolute over-abundance of yellow-rumped warblers (about equal myrtles
and audubons). I see them virtually everywhere in the valley. Dowtown Mt.
Vernon; any wooded park; out of my office window. The Skagit game range is
choked with them. And it is never one at a time, but more like large
widespread groups. I do know that this species can be quite irruptive, but
I personally haven't witnessed this many for such a stretch of time. Not
many other unusual obs, but I did actually find a Pacific-slope flycatcher
about two weeks ago at Deception Pass SP. I figured this was a little
early, but it sounds like it still isn't being regularly seen. I am fairly
certain I saw a Hammond's flycatcher at Breazale Int Center on Padilla Bay
today. Another fairly spectacular sight I witnessed this afternoon at
Padilla Bay was literally hundreds of Great Blue Herons evenly spaced out
on the mud-flats at low tide as far as my binos could see. I have never
seen that many GBH's at one location. A nice sunset helped as well. Ended
up with 36 species in an hour at Breazale. Not too shabby for me.

Another thing I have noticed is that I never really see Anna's hummingbirds
here in the summer. The only time I ever get them at my house is in the
winter. I have a feeling that the aggro Rufous' keep them away this time
of year. I only mention this because I continually hear of birders seeing
them regularly at this time in the Puget Sound area.

Other notes. Lots of Lincoln's and Golden-crowned sparrows around. At the
Skagit Game Range this last week: a very young Fox sparrow; a couple
Cinnamon teals; a robin in hot pursuit of a greater yellowlegs (gotta love
those robins this time of year); and a lone California Quail. The only
other CA Quail I have seen in Skagit county were adjacent to Washington
Park in Anacortes. They are probably more common than I think, but I don't
get out to check as much as I'd like. Just like all of you I imagine.
Take it easy.


Kurt Ranta
Mt. Vernon, WA
kckar at earthlink.net