Subject: [Tweeters] Sequim birds
Date: Oct 15 08:44:45 2007
From: Scott Atkinson - scottratkinson at hotmail.com



Tweeters:

Nothing like the last few trips but found a few along Schmuck Rd (east-northeast of Sequim) yesterday, 10/14. On the fields along the west side, especially in the north, corn has recently been mowed and there is much stubble. The dominant birds were Canada Goose and various gulls, but also present were:

Cackling Goose 8
Gr. White-fronted Goose 5 (40 present on 10/13 eve)
Killdeer 200 (high count)
Black-bellied Plover 35
AM. GOLDEN-PLOVER 1 juv
Am. Pipit 50
W. Meadowlark 2

Birding at 3 Crabs was slow, a Peregrine flew over for interest. The most interesting bird of the weekend was a huge gull, sp. that flew right over the main drag through Sequim near the new Costco; the bird carried itself exactly like an Osprey in head-on angle, and in fact until I got closer I thought that is what it was, given the very long wingspan. When I got closer, the familiar gull gizz was apparent; although white below, it was medium brown (not uniformly, with paler and darker areas) across the wings/scap/back, but had a bold white rump and distinct tail band. Perhaps just another 3rd-winter Western, but unfortunately, I was w/family in tow and couldn't give chase.

Finally, before we left, I had a late VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW low over the house in n. Lake Stevens on Saturday, Oct. 13, our latest for that species there, although I had one once in Arlington on Oct. 21.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens, WA
mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

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