Tweeters:



The Kempers' Gray Catbird near Marblemount makes 11 total records/reports by my count since 1974, unless someone knows of any from 2008. Of those, five have been from the central Rockport-to-Marblemount corridor, May 12-July 6. The last since the Kempers bird was one June 3, 2007 at the nearby Marblemount Boat launch, others have been close at Barnaby Slough and Corkindale Creek powerline crossing. There are six more from the coastal lowlands, including four fall migrants spanning Aug. 25-Oct. 10 on Fir I./Skagit SMA. The westernmost and perhaps most unusual was one on Burrows Island, west of Anacortes in Rosario Strait near the count's western edge, many years ago in mid-July (July 11 to be precise). The Dennys found this one.



The last decade seems to have the most reports. All but a couple have been 1-day wonders, but given nesting west of the Cascades in sw BC, one wonders if the species might nest locally here too, given plenty of favorable riverine/riparian habitat. The Barnaby Slough area seems especially favorable, and tracts of inaccessible habitat here are extensive.



Visitors should also be on watch in this same area for YB Chat at this time of year. This species has been recorded less often, but each of the county's records (except one) have been in the same area for June-July, specifically Rockport (Martin Rd) and Bacon Creek.



Scott Atkinson

Lake Stevens

mail to: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

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