What a day to be out birding crisp cold air and bright blue skies and birds everywhere. At the Wylie Slough Game Range the sparrows were out in force. My friend Aja and I started our walk from the boat launch side and crossed the first bridge into the wheat fields. The blackberry bushes on the opposite side of the field were full of sparrows Song, Fox, Lincoln's, White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Juncos, Towhees, two White-throated, and one American Tree Sparrow. After a few more flocks of sparrows we travelled on in search of the Ruff on Boe Rd.

We didn't find the Ruff, but we did find a sandpiper amongst the Killdeer that just didn't look right. We watched it through my scope from a distance and kept losing it in the contours of the field, but finally it flew in close and I was able to get good look. The bird was smaller than the Killdeer and quite stocky, it had a red crown and a contrasting light eyebrow. The bird also had a pale reddish wash on its upper breast and white on the edges of the scapulars. Although the legs appeared dark they may have just been covered in mud. When the bird flew it had white underwings, but I didn't get a good look at the tail. After much deliberation, talking with Ryan Merril, and studying my shorebird guide I have come to the conclusion that the bird was a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. It was located on the south side of Boe Rd. about half way between where the Ruff has been and the begining of the Port Susan trail. We last saw the bird fly off with a small flock of Killdeer and disappear.

Afterwards I went over to the Stanwood STP and Aja headed home for Ellensburg. There was nothing unusual at the STP and I decided to go back to Boe Rd and have one last look. Of course the Ruff had returned and was in the fenced in field in the front of the farm with all the machinery(the one with the small horse) I called Aja, but he was already pretty far along. Bummer. Still, it was a great day of birding.
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