Today I birdrd a bit in Skagit County.

The highlight of the day happened early. I was looking for the very light Merlin that I saw in Edison on Feb 9, Feb 15 and as late as March 30. No luck with the Merlin, but as I was searching, a pair of SANDHILL CRANES announced their arrival and flew low overhead. They lingered and circled as though they intended to land, but continued on. In the distance (to the west) I could hear other cranes for several minutes, but was never able to see them.

I visited Channel Drive at low tide, but the tide was not low enough. No mud for shorebirds. Little of note there.

At Skagit Wildlife, I thought I might see Black-crowned Night-Heron as did Gary Bletsch and Bob Kuntz. I dipped on the BCNH, but a cousin showed up, and I got a very nice look at an AMERICAN BITTERN. The LESSER YELLOWLEGS was still there with a few GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Also a flock of 50 LEAST SANDPIPERS.


Marv Breece
Seattle, WA
mbreece at earthlink.net