Hey Tweeters,

Yesterday Ryan Merril and myself enjoyed all the great birds out in Clallam county that have been mentioned so far. After enjoying the Eider, Godwit, and the various interesting shorebirds in the ponds near 3 Crabs we headed out to Whidbey Island en route to Sammish Island.
On the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidbey we saw numerous Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets, and the great bonus of an unexpected CASSIN'S AUKLET.
Once across we tried to peer at the shorebirds on Crockett but didn't see anything buy distant peeps and Great Yellowlegs. We also startled two Northern Harriers that were feasting on the remains of what appeared to be a baby rabbit.
Next we headed up north to Skagit/Sammish. At the ponds on Green Road we had Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, and several Least Sandpipers despite little water. Next it was over to West 90.
At West 90 we walked to the main pond and sat for about half an hour enjoying the various shorebirds there. We observed 36 Least Sandpipers, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, at least 10 Long-billed Dowitchers, and 1 Red-necked Phalarope. We also had great looks at 4 imm. Soras, working the areas of the pond with reeds near by, but still quite out in the open. We were able to sit on the edge on the pond and some of the birds got within 7 feet of us especially the Leasts.
Finally on the way south in the dark, we had a single Barn Owl fly over the road ending a great day. Good birding,
-Brendan

Brendan McGarry
Seattle, Washington
Uglyduckling at comcast.net