Tweeters:

Yesterday morn I was back at the Skagit WMA and points nearby, and although
I posted a birdbox message, I thought I'd pass along details for those not
covering the hotline.

>From dawn to about 9:30 a.m. there were many migrants at the Skagit WMA main
access off Wylie Rd, including:

Turkey Vulture 6 (west of Wylie Rd)
Willow Flycatcher 2 (slightly late)
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 2
LEAST FLYCATCHER 1**
Brown Creeper 12 (downslope migrants? Even 1-2 out in crabapple scrub)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 35+
Am. Pipit 10
Varied Thrush 2
Hermit Thrush 1
Swainson's Thrush 2
Warbling Vireo 3
OC Warbler 18
Yellow Warbler 13
YR Warbler 14
MacGillivray's Warbler 2
Wilson's Warbler 3
Com. Yellowthroat many
W. Tanager 3
Golden-crowned Sparrow 75+
Purple Finch 35+
Lapland Longspur 3 (overflight calling birds)

**The LEAST FLYCATCHER was an uncommonly cooperative bird that was fairly
near one of the PACIFIC-SLOPEs in an elderberry thicket along the east side
of the entrance road, between the two parking areas but closest to the boat
launch lot. The bird responded to pishing well, vocalized, and was visible
within 20-40 ft for several minutes, even perching in the open several
times. This is Skagit County's 5th that I know of, the others June-July
birds inland, although a number of years back there was another Sept bird at
the Skagit WMA (Sept 19-21 as memory serves), seen by many.

While at the Skagit WMA, watch for pheasant hunters dressed in bright
orange, there were 10 or so at various points, mostly along the north side
of the loop trail.

And then after running into the Aslanians and Bob Kuntz over at Jensen, we
saw a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, which vocalized. There had apparently been 6
golden-plovers on the ploughed field by Jensen at dawn. However, the tide
was unfavorable so we all left just before 10.

At Hayton, there was an early returning 1st-winter HERRING GULL. Along
Maupin Rd and nearby, among a vast swallow assortment, including many birds
sitting right on the pavement of Maupin Rd itself:

V-G Swallow 800
Barn Swallow 500
CLIFF SWALLOW 1 juv (a bit late)

Lastly, on return home, I had a juv. GRAY JAY in heavy conifer forest at our
place in n. Lake Stevens in the afternoon, a very good find and only the
second time we've had one. Finally, for Anne Winskie, another Sept
highlight: Marysville Jaguars 37, Granite Falls Hawks 0.

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