Subject: [Tweeters] 17 shorebird sp Skagit, some rare ones
Date: Aug 16 23:22:30 2005
From: Gary Bletsch - garybletsch at yahoo.com


Dear Tweeters,

Today (August 16, 2005) there were amazing shorebirds
in various places in Skagit County. Here are the
highlights.

Killdeer (lots of places);

Semipalmated Plover, about 13 at Jensen Access;

Wilson's Snipe, 1 at Hayton Preserve;

Long-billed Dowitcher, 40 + at Channel Drive (N of
LaConner along E shore of Swinomish Channel); also
several at Hayton Preserve;

Short-billed Dowitcher, 15 juveniles at Channel Drive;
can be a hard species to find in Skagit County;

Greater Yellowlegs, one at a dwindling pond just W of
Lyman, SR 20 mile 73.7; one at Whitmarsh (March's
Point); 15 at Channel Drive; one at Jensen Access;

Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 at pond east of railroad tracks
along Anacortes Street, Burlington; 15 at Channel
Drive; 13 at Hayton Preserve; 3 at Jensen Access;

Solitary Sandpiper, one at pond by SR 20 mile 73.7;
one at pond by Anacortes Street in Burlington (this is
just west of Jee Jac Kennels);

Spotted Sandpiper, one oiled juvenile at very tip of
March's Point;

STILT SANDPIPER: two at Channel Drive;

Baird's Sandpiper: 2 at Jensen Access, 4 at Channel
Drive;

Least Sandpiper, many flocks here and there, both
fresh and saltwater;

Western Sandpiper, smaller numbers than Least today,
and only on brackish or salt water (March's Point, Fir
Island, Channel Drive);

Semipalmated Sandpiper, one at Channel Drive, one at
Swinomish Channel shoreline north of SR 20 bridge;

SANDERLING: one flying hither and thither with peeps
at Jensen Access, quite surprising here;

Black Turnstone, 8 or more at usual pier on March's
Point, plus one on small rocks off North Fork Access
(Fir Island);

and the bird of the day, RUDDY TURNSTONE, my first
ever in Skagit County: one on the rock off North Fork
Access, showing off bright orange legs, with a Black
Turnstone for comparison!

There: seventeen species of shorebirds, and no
Black-bellied Plover! I tried for hours to find some,
too....

Other interesting birds, in no particular order,
included:

Eared Grebes, 3 in breeding plumage off North Fork
Access;

Merlins, one on Fir Island, one at Channel Drive;

Peregrines, 2 together at Jensen, one dark, one light;

Cooper's Hawk, two on Fir Island, including one that
seemed to think it was a harrier at Hayton Preserve;

California Quail, four along Channel Drive, one of
which a tiny chick;

Virginia Rail, one calling spontaneously at dusk at
Hayton Preserve;

Common Merganser, at least 130 off Hayton Preserve;

Bank Swallow, one at Channel Drive, well seen, not a
Tree Swallow;

Oregon Junco, one at my house near Lyman, quite
surprising this time of year away from forest.

One comment: some of these places are hard to
access, or involve narrow pullouts, or possible
conflicts with landowners. Please respect the private
property signs at Channel Drive, especially, as this
is a primo spot with a rather iffy access status. At
March's Point, be prepared to be questioned by oil
company security people. At the Burlington location,
park on the east side of Anacortes Street and walk
across the street, or else discreetly drive to the
south end of Pine Street and view from there. At SR 20
milepost 73.7, pull well off, or stop briefly on the
little causeway road, but beware of property rights
issues. This area is now crawling with police, and
they don't like people stopping anywhere close to the
white stripe.


Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

near Lyman (Skagit County), Washington

garybletsch at yahoo.com


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