Yesterday (8/13/06) I birded a few sites north of Seattle.

I started at Channel Drive, in Skagit County, north of La Conner. At this location there were 24 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, a couple of LEAST SANDPIPERS and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. The water was high and the mud covered. While leaving I spotted a juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON on the wooden walkway.

Went to Jensen Access on Fir Island. Two YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS perched on top of a snag that had washed up on the beach. A flock of 70 or more BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS flew in, then left without landing.

For the day I saw 5 AMERICAN KESTRELS. Two near Jensen Access, one at the north edge of Stanwood and two more along Boe Road, south of Stanwood. There was also a MERLIN (a VERY dark one) at the end of Boe Road.

Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net