Ok - I was up on Whidbey Fri-Sun. Sat am I was watching a group of birds out on a spit on Sunlight Beach while tide was out. They then flew to the yard and to the roof and took a bath in birdbath. (several).

We encounted a couple of birders w/ scopes and they basically said they could "guarantee" that it was not A. Pipits that we saw. Am I crazy? I had questioned and first thought starlings...yes they are around there, but the coloring/bill length/ and Opperman's Guide led me to that conclusion. (page 80/Whidbey summer). I could understand any other bird than a starling. Are there any other possible suggestions? Or am I just all wet?

If the "guarantor" is out there, even though I didn't have a scope, I suggest a kinder response to any birder would have been..."that sounds a bit early/late"...but not be quite so sure without having seen the actual bird in the hand so to speak. I don't always get all the gulls, flycatchers, etc. but I've got a pretty good eye.

Anyway, I'd love to hear from my Tweeters.

A new bird etiquette food for thought - encouragement! Of course, you never know if the person might be an ornithologist from Cornell...

Caryn / Wedgwood

If I'm totally wrong - I'll eat crow-fu.