Tweeters,

I wouldn't give up on the Stanwood sewage ponds just yet, despite Michael
Willison's pessimistic report. Yesterday afternoon, there were still 4
species of shorebirds in the entrance ponds. I missed the Stilt Sandpiper
reported by Georgia Conti, and the Wilson's Phalarope reported by Michael,
but I did see a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER at point-blank range, 22 RED-NECKED
PHALAROPES in the main sewage pond, and at least 3 BANK SWALLOWS among 5
species of swallows over the pond.

I also looked, without luck, for the EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES near the sewage
ponds and along nearby Thomle Road (where Collared-Doves were seen last
year). I did see several MOURNING DOVES along Thomle Road, which seems to be
a regular spot for them. I suspect that the Collared-Doves are still in the
general area, even if they are somewhat elusive.

Attached is a copy of my report to http://birdnotes.net .


Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net

_____________________________________________________________________


This report was mailed for Wayne Weber by http://birdnotes.net.


Date: August 26, 2007
Location: Stanwood Sewage Ponds, Snohomish County, Washington

Low temperature: 64 degrees Fahrenheit High temperature: 68 degrees
Fahrenheit
Wind direction: SW
Prevailing wind speed: 6-11 km/h gusting to: 12-19 km/h
Percentage of sky covered by clouds: 30%
Precipitation: none

The following birds were recorded at and near the Stanwood sewage
ponds, Snohomish County, WA, on August 26, 2007 between about 4:00
and 6:00 PM.

The Red-necked Phalaropes were in a loose flock on the main sewage
pond, and flew from one location to another several times.

All of the other shorebirds were seen in the marshy area at the
entrance to the ponds, except for the Semipalmated Plovers, which
flew over the ponds in a tight flock.

There were at least 3 BANK SWALLOWS among the flock of swallows
feeding over the ponds, which included 5 species of swallows,
although 90% were BARN SWALLOWS.

Birds seen (in taxonomic order):

Gadwall 200
American Wigeon 4
Mallard 60
Cinnamon Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 200
Ring-necked Duck 4
Lesser Scaup 10
Bufflehead 1 [1]
Hooded Merganser 2
Ruddy Duck 40 [2]
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Horned Grebe 2
Great Blue Heron 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 50
Semipalmated Plover 20
Killdeer 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1 [3]
Western Sandpiper 6 [4]
Least Sandpiper 5
Common Snipe 3
Red-necked Phalarope 22
Ring-billed Gull 2
Glaucous-winged Gull 20
Rock Dove 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
American Crow 4
Tree Swallow 1
Violet-green Swallow 2
Bank Swallow 3
Cliff Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 60
European Starling 200
Cedar Waxwing 5
Common Yellowthroat 1
Brewer's Blackbird 2
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 6

Footnotes:

[1] Bufflehead-- female
[2] Ruddy Duck-- many males in partial breeding plumage
[3] Semipalmated Sandpiper-- juvenile
[4] Western Sandpipers-- juveniles

Total number of species seen: 39