Tweeters,

Spent a few hours this afternoon birding Southwest Skagit County with my dad. At the game range, the Northern Waterthrush was being very vocal today. It did provide a brief view of itself, however in the brush that is on the NE corner of the parking lot near the boat launch. This is the opposite corner of the lot as are the restrooms. It was also seen briefly just across the road from there (just east). It was giving it's metallic chip note. Later as we began the dike trail loop, it was very vocal from the dike itself, about 100 yards west from the "trailhead". Although we pished, it didn't show itself there. Several other birders we met along the trail had also seen the NOWA in the parking lot area.

Nothing else much of note at the game range. We then worked north out to the west 90. I counted 7 Short-eared Owls working the fields at dusk, as well as 15 Harriers that I counted, however I soon lost count with the harriers as I'm sure there were likely 30+ in that immediate vicinity and it began to become difficult to separate them. Several Rough-legged Hawks, RT Hawks and Bald Eagles also in the area. We were unable to locate the Prairie Falcon that was reported yesterday. Excellent weather and lighting today!

Michael Willison, sendtomichael at hotmail.com, Stanwood
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