Shorebird watching had been non-existent for the last week and a half
because the Edmonds Marsh was at flood level with no tidal movement
at all. It seems that the contractor remediating soil at the Unocal
site diverted Willow Creek into the Marsh, creating flood conditions
and covering all mud. One wonders how these things happen with
Department of Ecology oversight and the property owner (City of
Edmonds) presumably not aware that it was happening. Well, no mud,
no shorebirds. But yesterday morning the water level had receded,
exposing lots of muddy areas. There was a return of WESTERN
SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and one RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE. This morning the water level was high again although
there were a few shorebirds minus the yellowlegs and phalarope.

I ran into Ted Peterson on the Public Pier after leaving the Marsh.
As we were talking he spotted a RED-THROATED LOON flying south and
fairly far out over the Sound. I was able to get my binoculars on it
before it was out of visual range. That was a first for the fall
season. PURPLE MARTINS were clustering on the masts of sailboats in
the marina. We were hoping for a Parasitic Jaeger or one of Gary
Bletsch's Common Loons that might have worked its way south. But the
only bird on one of the dive park buoys was a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT.

Carol Riddell
Edmonds.