Dear Tweeters,

Thanks to Jim Walker for the idea of a Skagit Audubon
field trip to the Rockport area! It turned out to be
an excellent day.

Highlights included:

Pied-billed Grebe, about a dozen at Barnaby Slough,
one in Hamilton, four or five in Lyman.

Western Grebe, two in Lyman.

Trumpeter Swan, one bird in Lyman that's been there
over a month now (sick?).

OSPREY, one late bird along the Skagit River by Martin
Road.

Bald Eagle, ten to twelve feasting on fish, Skagit
River at Martin Road. One of the immature birds was a
puzzler: smallish size, rather pale overall, with a
pseudo-Red-tailed-Hawk belly band, a tawny-tan belly,
and lighter brown back than normal.

Northern Harrier, one immature at Martin Road, one
female at Barnaby Slough.

Cooper's Hawk, one at Barnaby Slough.

Ruffed Grouse, seen only by occupants of the one
vehicle that had inadvertantly driven past the Barnaby
Slough turnoff!

Greater Yellowlegs, two at Lyman.

Long-billed Dowitcher, six at Lyman.

PROBABLE BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 2 unidentified Calidrines
seen by the Skagit River, at Martin Road.
Unfortunately, the birds flew in and went to a grassy
wetland across river. Friendly passing fishermen,
aided by cooperative Northern Harrier, succeeded in
flushing the birds for us. They (the sandpipers) were
greyish-brown above, long-winged, too big for peeps,
and pale below. They did not seem brown enough for
Pectorals, and lacked any hint of brown breast or
sharp demarcation. One of the birders heard the birds
give some notes as they flushed, "peep! peep!" They
just about had to be Baird's Sandpipers, we figured.
Any commentary on the likelihood of Baird's up there
in late October would be appreciated.

HERRING GULL, one adult in winter plumage, scrapping
with Glaucous-winged Gulls along the Skagit. This is a
rare bird in Skagit County. This was only the fifth
one I have seen in the county. The only other upriver
observation I have made was also in October, a
juvenile at Concrete on 10-26-97.

NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, one observed for a half-hour at
the western forest-clearcut edge, Martin Ranch Road.
This bird first flew across the road, then perched at
eye-level. Then it plummeted to the grassy road-verge,
tussled for a few minutes, and flew up with a
sooty-grey, short-tailed mammal. The owl flew to a
perch just off the roadside, at which it appeared to
feed on the mammal for quite a while. Then the bird
was seen to fly to another perch, a bit deeper in the
woods, and then into a tiny tree-cavity. We thought
the bird may have taken part of the prey item into the
cavity; at any rate, the bird emerged empty-taloned,
and then perched a while in the forest. A most
excellent sighting for everyone!

NORTHERN SHRIKE: one adult at Martin Road access, one
immature in Hamilton.

Marsh Wren: two at Barnaby Slough, one still singing.

Fox Sparrow, two in Hamilton.

Evening Grosbeak: singles at Barnaby Slough and
Hamilton.

Pine Siskin: sixty or seventy at Barnaby Slough, forty
in Hamilton.

What a lovely day to enjoy the beauty and tranquility
of the Upper Skagit!






Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

near Lyman (Skagit County), Washington

garybletsch at yahoo.com


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