I had one of my best days of shorebird birding today in Skagit county. It started this morning when I refound a Sharp-tailed Sanpiper that I had only briefly been able to view the evening before. The bird was on Maupin Rd on the west side of the road just before you get the first house on the left coming from Rawlins Rd. Also in this field were a few Black-bellied Plovers, 1 Pacific Golden-plover, many Killdeer and a few peeps. After the Sharp-tailed dissappeared into the fog I went back to the North Fork access to look for the Sage Thrasher, although I had no luck finding the thrasher I did find an American Tree Sparrow in almost the same spot. Later in the afternoon I birded Alice Bay which was teeming with shorebirds. There was probably 200 Black-bellied Plovers, 2 Pacific Golden-plovers, 15-20 Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, and countless unidentifiable peeps. After Alice Bay I headed back to Fir Island to continue the search for the Sharp-tail with Howard and Mary Sue. We went back and forth between the field on Maupin Rd and Jenson access, but the bird refused to show. Howard and Mary Sue finally gave up and I went back to Jenson access for one last loook. As I was scanning one of the logs where the plovers and peeps had begun roosting I came across 2 Red Knots! I couldn't believe it, this nice weather has really got the birds moving!
I ve got a link here to a pic of the Sharp-tailed its terribly blurry, but you can see the distinct cap pretty well. Good day and good birding.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelbp/2903986934/


Joel Brady-Power
fvnerka at hotmail.com
Anacortes, Wa 98221
_________________________________________________________________
Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live.
http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093185mrt/direct/01/