Tw'ters,

David Given-Seymour discovered a birding bonanza at a small, seasonal pond
north of Nooksack, in northern Whatcom County. The normal size of the pond was
enhanced a bit when a drainage culvert apparently became blocked. Within the
pond area for the past few days was an assortment of "good birds."

On Sunday, David reported 2 Green-winged Teal, 23 Blue-winged Teal, 1
Cinnamon Teal, 6 Northern Shovelers, 15 Mallards, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Spotted
Sandpipers, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 dowitcher sp., 1 Yellow-headed Blackbird,
several Killdeer, and 5 Wilson's Phalaropes.

Joan Bird, Andrea Warner, and I met at the pond to view the mini-spectacle on
Monday morning and found most of the above and added 3 phalaropes. Later in
the day, David observed 12 phalaropes at the pond.

With all the wide open spaces in Whatcom County, one can only speculate as to
how many of these productive ponds there might be at this time of year. The
best ponds are always the ones that cattle can't get into to foul in their own
inimitable style.

Cheers,
Joe Meche
Birding Programs Coordinator
North Cascades Audubon
Bellingham, WA