Tweeters:

It seems there have been at least two 3rd-winter Westerns with light irises
at the Graysmarsh beach, based on notes from another observer who just
contacted me and had a photo of one of them. Its mantle looks lighter than
the bird I had, among other characters that differ. As Larry Schwitter's
earlier note suggested, the bird to look for (a near double for the bird) is
shown on:

http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/sbgu012105.htm

My bird was just barely paler than Morlan's here, but still darker than any
of the nearby Westerns & hybrids. Note also the suggestion of brown hue in
parts of the mantle in Morlan's link.

Also we should recall that the i.d. is incomplete without a good view of the
primaries from below, which can be admittedly quite difficult, yet is
essential for Slaty-backed. I had a bird with a yellow iris a couple weeks
ago at Marysville that looked like a possible Slaty-backed, but alas, I
could not get the primaries.

Hope someone can get some photos. Please pass along any other sightings
(recent observers have relocated both Swamp Sparrow & Eur Wigeon).

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com