Subject: [Tweeters] CATTLE EGRET Skagit Co, RE Vireo
Date: Aug 22 13:10:28 2008
From: Scott Atkinson - scottratkinson at hotmail.com



Tweeters:

Dallas Wylie, a farmer-friend from Fir Island, has just called to report that he has a CATTLE EGRET following close behind, and landing upon (!) the tractor he is using to prepare a field for seeding cabbage--up on the Swinomish Reservation. The site is just south of the Swinomish Casino. You take the entrance road into the Casino (accessed from turning right off Rt 20 if heading west in the direction of Anacortes) and then turn left onto a gravel road that goes south from the casino--and right under Rt 20. Apparently you wind around and a short ways down he is working that area. Gary Bletsch, correct me if I'm wrong, but I show all but one of the previous Skagit County records from Oct-Dec (and especially Nov), and chiefly associated with livestock. Dallas' bird is apparently taking advantage of insects stirred up by the ground-breaking, and is a first for August in the county. If you plan to go, keep in mind this is private Swinomish Tribal Land and to stay clear of any moving equipment.

Also, less exciting but of note, I had a migrant RED-EYED VIREO on passage in the alders at the edge of the yard at the place in n. Lake Stevens today. Looks like we have a great weekend ahead, and taken together with others' reports this week, fall migration seems to be kicking into gear.

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