Subject: [Tweeters] Eastern Kingbird at Barnaby Slough, Skagit County
Date: May 30 21:39:33 2005
From: Carol Riddell - cariddell at mac.com


Susie Schaefer and I birded several areas along Highway 20 this afternoon,
our objective being to see if we could find the American Redstarts. We
spent most of our time at the Marblemount Boat Launch and the County Line
Ponds but also hit Ranger Station Road in Marblemount, Martin Road off SR
530 and Barnaby Slough. We dipped on the Redstarts after methodical
searches at both the boat launch and the line ponds. The high points were
an EASTERN KINGBIRD at Barnaby Slough, a male LAZULI BUNTING and a male
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK on Martin Road. We saw RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS at
four different sites. Lots of CEDAR WAXWINGS were seen throughout the
afternoon as well as RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. We only saw one flycatcher, as
probable Hammond's at County Line Ponds. COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were seen at
the boat launch and Barnaby Slough.

We were at Barnaby Slough from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. As we walked in and
reached the end of the first pond we delighted in watching a beaver swim,
notice us, give a resounding slap with its tail and then dive. We turned
right and walked the road between the first two ponds over to the marsh area
with lots of snags. That is where we saw the Eastern Kingbird. We watched
it off and on for half an hour in the alders along the road and then hawking
over the second pond.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds