Tweeters,

As noted previously by John Wallace, the RUFF (Reeve?) was still present
along Boe Road, in the Stillaguamish R. Delta just south of Stanwood,
yesterday. I had very nice looks at the bird between about 1 and 2 PM, as it
foraged in a plowed field with a flock of about 50 KILLDEER. Although I did
not get photos, somebody with better camera equipment than mine could
probably have taken some decent shots-- the Ruff was not too far from the
road.

Yesterday was the 5th consecutive day the bird has been present since it was
first reported by Steve Mlodinow. (That is, presuming it was present on Dec.
3, when no one reported it although several birders, including me, looked
for it.) Chances seem good that it will stay for at least a few more days.

Is this a first county record? As far as I can tell, it is. It's also very
unusual for Ruffs to be seen in winter. Although Ruff is a rare annual
migrant (or nearly annual) around Vancouver, BC, I cannot recall any
Vancouver records (or any for elsewhere in BC) from December through
February. The vast majority of records occur between July and October.

So even though it took me two tries to find this bird, I am very glad to
have seen it-- doubly so because it was Number 200 for my Snohomish County
list, and only my second Ruff in Washington.

Many thanks to Steve and to all subsequent observers for reporting this
bird, and let's hope it remains for a while longer.

Good luck and good birding,

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