Tweeters:

Eager for one more before the CBC, Anne Winskie and I couldn't resist
another shot at Grays after the survey on the 4th. We did better, too,
finding 112 species, above average and the Sept 4 survey but still 7 short
of our best day, back on May count '98. As hoped, the early flooding of the
marsh re-established shorebird habitat, and, lo and behold, they came.
Doing the marsh loop proved an adventure with regular boots, and Anne ended
up with the wetfoot, I just missed it. The duck flight was nearly CBC-like.
Meanwhile, the regular summer warblers and Swainson's Thrushes are at the
end of their season, as none were as evident as back on Sept 4.

(A disclaimer for first-time readers before I get buried with e-mails:
Graysmarsh is a private property about 1 mile north of downtown Sequim. The
site is closed to public access, although the beach area is mostly open
(from Wilcox Lane), provided you can find a parking spot--and it is not
easy).

HIGHLIGHTS SEPT. 25, MIGRANT and OTHER BIRDS

Red-throated Loon 25
Pac. Loon 56
Canada Goose 313 (all-time high)
Cackling Goose 2
Gr. White-fronted Goose 5
Wood Duck 2
(Am.) Green-winged Teal 378
N. Pintail 154
N. Shoveler 107
Cinnamon Teal 2
Merlin 2, Peregrine Falcon 1
12 shorebird sp, including PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER 1 (beach)
RUFF 1 (juv.,--see note 1)
Pectoral Sandpiper 14
Parasitic Jaeger 1
ANCIENT MURRELET 1 (early, note 2)
Barred Owl 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 (one w/long white whisker, dark crown patch)
Empidonax, sp. 1
Steller's Jay 32 (clearly on the move)
Swainson's Thrush 1
Hermit Thrush 1
Varied Thrush 2
5 warbler sp, mostly YR (70), best a lingering Wilson's, couple each OC and
Yellow
7 sparrow sp, not including junco-towhee, incl. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
(note 3)
BOBOLINK 1 (note 4)

(1)--the juv. Ruff was with three Pectorals, the small group alit briefly
right in front of us at Wigeon pasture in the n. end of the marsh before
taking off southward. All field marks clear, gangly appearance, prominent
eye, buffy unmarked breast, scaly appearing back, and white "horsehoe"
uppertail coverts in flight were seen, and although brief, we had a good
comparison with a nearby Pec, too. First for the property, although a
probable bird had shown up on the CBC several years ago.
(2)--the slightly early murrelet was a scope study from the bluff trail, far
offshore toward Protection I; also here, good numbers of Com Murre, Pigeon G
and a couple remaining Rhinos
(3)--the sparrow was possibly seen fleetingly, but was mainly heard; it both
called and sang (!) from the traditional spot where I get 'em on the CBC,
but stayed hunkered down behind the brambles
(4)--the Bobolink was a very striking fall-plumaged bird in rich
golden-buff, in a Brewer's Blackbird flock at south Grays. This is Grays'
2nd bird and I believe only Clallam's 2nd.

Birds on the move--as noted above, RT and Pacific Loons, and Steller's Jays
were widespread, but also N. (Red-sh) Flicker, DE (Ore) Junco, Savannah
Sparrow and RW Blackbird were also notable in their abundance.

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