Tweeters,

I had just arrived home from poking around the Stanwood STP and area in time to see Steve's posting of the Ruff off of Boe Rd, just south of Stanwood less than 2 miles. I made it to the location by 345pm and easily found the Ruff on the north side of Boe Rd, in with about 50 Killdeer. The Ruff eventually came as close as about 10 feet from the edge of the road. The location is approx. 6 tenths of a mile down Boe Rd off of Marine View Drive. I was able to watch the Ruff in poor light until 415pm and although I tried to take some pictures, it was just too dark and the bird too active to get anything. After consulting my "Shorbirds of the World" guide, my thoughts are that it is likely a juvenile female, as I believe was suggested. Possibly even a first winter bird as the legs are in my opinion brownish (could be greenish). Darker bird overall than what might be a juv. male.

Earlier, present at the STP's were a fair number of waterfowl. Good numbers of Mallards, Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, and Ring-necked Duck. A few Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, G.W. Teal, 1 Hooded Merg., and 1 Am. Wigeon. 1 Greater Yellowlegs at the entrance to the STP. Hundreds of Snow Geese in the field just SW of the STP. 1 female Common Goldeneye on a pond in NE Stanwood.

Good birding!

Michael Willison, Stanwood, sendtomichael at hotmail.com


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