Dear Tweeters,

Thanks to Joel Brady-Powers, Steve Mlodinow, and the
folks who reported the Yellow-headed Blackbird!

Besides the YBBL and the lovely Mountain Bluebird, the
gull flock that Steve Mlodinow reported was still
there in Sedro-Woolley on 3-01-08. This flock is
hanging out at Janicki Fields, mainly in the grassy
area between the McDonald's/Union 76 station and the
ballfields.

In the flock yesterday were just over 60
Glacuous-winged Gulls, the THAYER's GULL that Steve
reported, a good Western Gull (hard to find in Skagit
County), and my first-of-the-year California Gull. The
CAGU was in absolutely stunning plumage, with a
scarlet gape line and matching orbital ring.

To observe this gull flock, take Exit 232 off I-5,
then drive east on Cook Road. This is a lot easier
than taking SR 20, birdier and with less traffic.

That Cook Road exit is right near the YHBL and MOBL
spots, so one could take a quick left northwards onto
Green Road, and then turn right (eastwards) onto
Dahlstedt Road. After you effortlessly tick the two
passerine rarities, take Dahlstedt all the way to its
east end, go right (south) on District Line Road, and
then go left eastwards onto Cook Road again. After the
speed limit drops to 35 mph, take a right southwards
onto Trail Road, then take a right westwards onto
Hodgin Street, which comes after some cul-de-sacs and
apartments or condos.


The gull flock lawns are on the right along Hodgin.
This is a lot easier route to take than SR 20, and
birdier. Sometimes the gulls forage on the gravel pad
between McDonald's, the Union 76 station, and the
playfields. By the way, the brushy edges of Janicki
Fields aren't half bad for birding when there's no
sports activity.

If you head back to the Butler Flats, which include
Green Road and Dahlstedt Road, there were also quite a
few ducks about, including at least two Eurasian
Wigeon in fields between Green Road and Old Highway
99.

Another good birding option is the Gardner Road, which
connects N-S between Cook and SR 20. There were tons
of ducks there yesterday; the farms along this road
have had YHBL in the past, so if that bird disappears,
it would be wise to check Gardner. The little cemetery
on this road sometimes has good birds, too--once in a
while a Solitaire shows up at the hollies across from
the cemetery.

Finally, I just wanted to report a Northern Shrike
that I saw on Burmaster Road yesterday, which is
another birdy road near Sedro-Woolley, this one being
east of town off Minkler Road.

Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch




Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

near Lyman (Skagit County), Washington

garybletsch at yahoo.com



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